Camera Traps – September 2024 accrued 23-cassowaries, 23-dingoes and 223-feral pigs. Against the cumulative monthly average, cassowary numbers fell by 77%, dingoes also fell by 42% and feral-pig numbers increased by 118%. Against September 2023, cassowary sightings were 18% fewer, dingo numbers fell by 72%, as did feral-pigs by 59%.
Image highlights from Camera Traps – September 2024
Cassowary capers …
Having lost his last two broods of chicks, the former to Cyclone Jasper and the latter to predation, Crinkle-Cut is now mating again with Delilah and will soon retreat to his 7 to 8-week incubation period.
Daintree Dingoes …
A young dingo pup following mom on an early foray into the broader expanse of its habitat
Feral-pigs thriving under the legislative blanket of World Heritage protection
New Daintree River Ferry To Reduce Waiting Times With Larger Vessel
Aiming to ensure the continuation of the Daintree Ferry service, which is at the end of its asset life and also vital for tourists and residents north of the Daintree River, to no later than November 2027, Douglas Shire (Council) has resolved to call tenders for a replacement ferry service under an initial agreement of at least 15-years. The new ferry will be designed, constructed and delivered with four-lanes, rather than the current vessel’s three-lanes, improving efficiency for queue lengths and waiting times by a projected 90-percent.
Calls for Council to consider restructuring the nature of tourism-use of the ferry-service, seem to have been disregarded.
The Daintree Futures Study 2000 – Ferry Operations:
The key issues at the ferry are that its pricing structure and management have a substantial effect on the convenience and cost of access for local residents and for the different categories of tourists. Conversely, varying prices and management can influence the equity to local residents and businesses and also provide a means of influencing visitation types.
Major works for widening approaches to allow dual-lane loading onto a four-lane ferry, will incur substantial costs, as will the impost of additional staffing for safe management of the dual-lane-loading, all of which fall under the cost-recovery entitlements currently authorised within the DAINTREE FERRY REVENUE GENERAL POLICY, which will inevitably increase the burden of expense for access to travellers across the Daintree River and into the business community within the destination.
Daintree Rainforest Foundation Ltd has been registered by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission and successfully entered onto the Register of Environmental Organisations. Donations made to the Daintree Rainforest Fund support the Daintree Rainforest community custodianship and are eligible for a tax deduction under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.