Can wildlife tourism make money and also help conserve wildlife?

One of the reasons I personally went into ecotourism was to provide governments, developers etc. with an economic reason for preserving wildlife and its habitats (my other main reason was to share my enthusiasm with others for the wonderful diversity of wild creatures and wild places on this planet, and hopefully in so doing  to deepen their understanding of the same, and appreciation of their intrinsic non-monetary values).

One of the positive benefits of wildlife tourism towards tourism conservation has long been identified as the potential for donations towards conservation, from  tourism operators, their guests and perhaps local businesses and governments that directly or indirectly benefit from the tourism dollar.

But to give we need to also receive –  at least   enough to keep giving without going broke.    And tourism operations that make non-financial contributions (e.g. habitat restoration, quality interpretation, conservation-breeding) have to make enough to survive.  It also helps if the local community benefits, and  continues to support their efforts.

Can all this happen, either at an individual operator level or a regional level?

regent bowerbirdOne of Australia’s best-published economics researchers (amongst the top three in the country according to Wikipedia) – Clem Tisdell –  has conducted many studies on the economics of wildlife tourism in Australia and elsewhere, including amongst many other topics rainforests and glow worm caves in Southeast Queensland,  Antarctic voyages and an elephant orphanage in Sri Lanka. Apart from individual studies he has provided a number of very useful and wide-ranging review papers.

We will have a chance to hear Professor Tisdell’s latest information and advice at the Wild Benefits conference to be held at the Gold Coast 1st to 3rd September 2010, and it will be a great opportunity to ask him questions (and listen to his answers to the questions of others, both immediately after his presentation and at other times during the conference).

This is the third national wildlife tourism conference to be held in Australia. There are day registrations and student registrations available, ad the earlybird discount registration is open until the end of July.

Scenic Rim’s Wildlife Expo a great success

Martin Fingland from Geckos WIldlife with his channel-billed cuckoo

channel-billed cuckoo

Perfect weather, a wonderful display of live locally-native animals, interesting displays and presentations  and a crowd of cheerful people of all ages made our Wildlife Expo a great success.  Visitors got to meet bettongs, potoroos, gliders, fruitbats,  owls, cuckoos, flap-footed lizards, turtles, pythons and other creatures and learn about wildlife conservation,  care of orphaned and injured animals, wildlife feeding, nesting boxes, wildlife-attracting plants, nature photography, wildlife art, tertiary courses involving wildlife, birding, reptiles shows and more.

The photo shows Martin Fingland of Gecko’s Wildlife, with one of his tame local species.

The Expo was run by the Scenic Rim branch of the WIldlife Preservation Society of Queensland.

For details of this great day, visit Scenic Rim Wildlife, and stay tuned for the next expo (either 2011 or 2012)

Wildlife Tourism Conference September 2010

A reminder: the third national wildlife tourism conference is to be held at the Gold Coast, Australia from 1st to 3rd September.

The conference will present the latest on the economics of wildlife tourism (relevant to both strategy planners and individual tourism operations), environmental benefits and risks associated with wildlife tourism, and the social and psychological benefits of animal-human interaction. There will be workshops on how to make wildlife tourism cater better to wildlife conservation and how to interpret wildlife to people of different backgrounds, plus ample time for other discussions – a great opportunity to toss around ideas, exchange information and discuss problems and potential solutions

Visit www.wildlifetourism.org.au for details, and get your registrations in ASAP. There may still be an opportunity to submit a belated abstract if you act swiftly

Scenic Rim Wildlife meeting

Members of the Scenic Rim branch of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland will be meeting at 4.30 pm on Sunday 18th July, at the close of the (free) full-day Wildlife Expo at Enterprise Drive, Beaudesert.

Non-members are cordially invited to come along and meet members and join in our discussion of the Expo and activities for the coming year, including our efforts to collate information on wildlife needa and potential habitat  corridors in our region.

Positive effects of wildife tourism

A suggestion for those who are joining the discussions on positive effects of wildlife tourism, whether as comments to this blog, the workshop on the theme at the Wildlife conference in September, or any other venue.

Some years ago I was co-author of a Sustainable Tourism  ‘The positive effects of Wildlife Tourism on Wildlife’ with Karen Higginbottom (senior author) and Chelsea Northrope.  That report is  available  for free download on the Sustainable Tourism CRC website.

If you don’t want to download the whole report (603kb), there is a summary sheet (92kb) with the main conclusions and recommendations

There are a number of other very relevant titles available also (some free, some not), which anyone interested in joining the discussion on how wildlife tourism might benefit wildlife conservation may like to read – plus of course various other publications on many other aspects of wildlife tourism (47 wildlife tourism titles currently available).

From the introduction to the Positive Effects paper:

“In principle, wildlife tourism can have various positive effects on wildlife species and their habitats. However, to date we know much more about negative effects of wildlife tourism on wildlife; very little systematic research has been conducted on positive effects. These positive effects work through four main mechanisms: (1) financial contributions, (2) non-financial contributions, (3) socio-economic incentives, and (4) education. The contribution may be to conservation, animal welfare, or both.”

Wildlife Tourism abstracts due

Reminder – abstracts for  Wildlife Benefits (Australia’s third national wildlife tourism conference)  1-3rd September (Gold Coast) are due by 30th June, and earlybird registration by mid-July

Wild Benefits explores the diversity of positive impacts of sustainable wildlife tourism, as well as strategies to achieve and maintain them. Sub themes include:

• Going for the Green – Environmental Benefits

• Spreading the Wealth – Economic Benefits

• Heart and Soul – Social Benefits

• Reality Bites – Risk and Management Strategies

Keynote Speakers include:

• Steve Parish, Australia’s best-known wildlife photographer  and publisher of wildlife books

• Assoc Professor Darryl Jones, Griffith University, Qld , one of Australia’s foremost authorities on human/wildlife interactions

• Professor Clem Tisdell, University of Queensland, Qld , one of Australia’s leading experts on the economics of wildlife tourism

• Nick Mooney, Tasmanian conservationist and 2006 Recipient Australian of the Year

• Shane O’Reilly, Tourism Queensland and O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, Queensland’s first and most famous ecotourism lodge with long experience of wildlife activities and a mecca for domestic and international birdwatchers

• Assoc Professor David Newsome, Murdoch University, WA, author of the book ‘Wildlife Tourism’

Join a stimulating range of plenary and contributed presentations, workshops, social events and field trips (e.g. whale watching, behind-the-scenes tours of Dreamworld’s Tiger island).

Enter the wildlife photography competition (great book prizes sponsored by Steve Parish Publishing)

Members of Wildlife Tourism Australia get discounted registration – if you’re not yet a member you can join when you register

For more details visit Wildlife Tourism Australia

Entries due soon for Great Wildlife Discovery Challenge

Challenge your brain! Learn about our wildlife. WIN GREAT PRIZES! Free Entry

Scenic Rim Branch Wildlife Preservation Society Queensland

Imagine winning two nights in beautiful accommodation at the edge of the rainforest, at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, or perhaps a family pass to Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk or Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, a meal at Bearded Dragon, a Steve Parish nature book, or a wildlife day-tour.

You only need answer nine  of the challenges

(2 travel questions and 7 others)

Further details on http://branches.wildlife.org.au/scenicrim

For queries, phone Ronda on 55441283 or send an email to scenicrim@wildlife.org.au

Send answers to WPSQ Scenic Rim, c/- Dr Ronda Green, 1770 Running Creek Road, Rathdowney 4287 or email to scenicrim@wildlife.org.au by 30 June 2010.

Winners will be announced at the Wildlife Expo, Beaudesert, 18th July 2010.

Challenge 1

How many names of creatures can you make from the letters of

MOOGERAH PEAKS NATIONAL PARK

that might actually be seen in this corner of the Scenic Rim?

How many other animal name can you find  from those letters that definitely won’t be seen here? (You should be able to find at least 10 of each)

For any particular animal name, do not use any letter more often than it appears in the words above

Challenge 2

Three fans, three brushes, one square, wedge and ring
How can these be connected with one kind of thing?
It’s a part of an animal, no not just one,
Nine species of animal – now for the fun!
Tell us what part of the animals these
Fans, brushes, squares, rings and wedges are, please
But more, can you tell us the species as well,
And remember, they all in the Scenic Rim dwell.
Some are feathered, some furred, and all different sizes
This may bring you closer to one of the prizes.

Challenge 3

In the 2007 Mammal Week at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, what was the most surprising thing about the bat caught at Luke’s farm? What six fields of research does the Australian government’s action plan for this bat recommend?

(clue- go to the O’Reilly’s website, then the website of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts and follow appropriate links from each)

Challenge 4

Find a hotel within the Scenic Rim that bears the name of a lizard found throughout the region and beyond. Then tell us what that lizard is and also what species Jaqueline is (hint: explore their website).

Challenge 5

TRAVEL QUESTION – YOU NEED ONLY ANSWER TWO OF THESE IN TOTAL

A butterfly rests by the tail of a snake
And a plump little bird begins to awake
These and others in circle meet
At Binna Burra’s end of street
What are the names of all that appear(Hint: several walks begin very near)?

Challenge 6

TRAVEL QUESTION – YOU NEED ONLY ANSWER TWO OF THESE IN TOTAL

Towards treetops a robin shares a sign
With two other birds who on insects dine,
And after a place for a shady rest,
You can see where one of these built a nest.
Now tell us which nest, and how it looks
(the sign won’t tell you – try google or books)
What other birds on this Green Mountains trail
Appear on the signs (and often for real)?

NOTE: the nests appear to have come down with a storm – but they were hanging nests covered with lots of lichen etc., with a side-opening, which should give you a clue

Challenge 7

TRAVEL QUESTION – YOU NEED ONLY ANSWER TWO OF THESE IN TOTAL

Atop a mountain, an easy drive,
Open forest and tall heath thrive.
Near Mee-bor-rum Circuit a campground sign,
With a picture of a bird you’ll find.
Why is its name appropriate to
The things the sign will tell you to do?
Not many metres away from here
Five other creatures on a sign appear.
Tell us, to possibly win a treat
What they are and what they eat.

(hint: think western)

Challenge 8

TRAVEL QUESTION – YOU NEED ONLY ANSWER TWO OF THESE IN TOTAL

Find a word to follow ‘Flinders” and you’ll name

A geological feature in our shire.

Use this same word and add another

And a town to the west will transpire.

This eight letter word will further describe

(though the word itself doesn’t appear)

a warning to drivers to take special care:

What animal features here?

Before you leave this western town,

See an educational wall

With Indigenous art clearly viewed from the street.

Name the animals (six in all)

Challenge 9

TRAVEL QUESTION – YOU NEED ONLY ANSWER TWO OF THESE IN TOTAL

A butterfly rests by the tail of a snake

And a plump little bird begins to awake

These and others in circle meet

At Binna Burra’s end of street

What are the names of all that appear

(Hint: several walks begin very near)?

Challenge 10

TRAVEL QUESTION – YOU NEED ONLY ANSWER TWO OF THESE IN TOTAL

Towards the treetops a robin shares a sign

With two other birds who on insects dine,

And after a place for a shady rest,

You can see where one of these built a nest.

Now tell us which nest, and how it looks

(the sign won’t tell you – try google or books)

What other birds on this Green Mountains trail

Appear on the signs (and often for real)?

Challenge 11

TRAVEL QUESTION – YOU NEED ONLY ANSWER TWO OF THESE IN TOTAL

Atop a mountain, an easy drive,

Open forest and tall heath thrive.

Near Mee-bor-rum Circuit a campground sign,

With a picture of a bird you’ll find.

Why is its name appropriate to

The things the sign will tell you to do?

Not many metres away from here

Five other creatures on a sign appear.

Tell us, to possibly win a treat

What they are and what they eat.

Challenge 12

Combine a dash of ‘prime ale’ with a town northwest of Boonah and a settlement north of Rathdowney.   From the 23 letters you should now have, take away two classes of vertebrates and rearrange the remaining letters to form the name of a well-loved local creature belonging to yet another class of vertebrates (hint: you can try googling ‘vertebrate’ and ‘class’ if you’re not sure what those terms mean)

Challenge 13

TRAVEL QUESTION – YOU NEED ONLY ANSWER TWO OF THESE IN TOTAL

“A LONGER PUP”, somewhat confused, will lead you to this southern destination.

Along the road by the same name, look for the colours of the buildings at a place whose name tells you three mountains are viewed from here. A little further, opposite a road with a German name, is a sign for a farmstay – note the colour of the sign (not the letters). Further still, another sign points to the last accommodation (and camping) along the route. Note the colours of the letters.  Now name at least one (you might manage two) local species whose names start with each of these three colours (they can be mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs or invertebrates).

Now that you’ve arrived at the end of the road ….

Two threatened birds appear on the sign

“Out of sight but not out of mind.”

There are threats a-plenty that these birds face,

Tell us those that are mentioned at this place.

There is something both these birds really need

That is mentioned here – what do you read?

Another bird, two mammals and a frog appear.

So one last thing – tell us which ones are here.

Challenge 14

TRAVEL QUESTION – YOU NEED ONLY ANSWER TWO OF THESE IN TOTAL

A town that starts with a rodent name

Is the focus of this part of our game.

Near a wagon is a building green.

Inside some local plants are seen.

Three very rare plants appear on one wall

And below them three birds (quite common, all).

Tell us their names, and what they eat,

And now – before you leave this street –

Stroll to the building with painted train

And you’ll see signs with birds again.

Four Scenic Rim signs show routes to explore

And birds are displayed here – on all four.

Tell us their names, and if you do

Maybe one of the prizes will come to you.

Challenge 15.

TRAVEL QUESTION – YOU NEED ONLY ANSWER TWO OF THESE IN TOTAL

In the hotel that bears a lizard’s name a feral animal is mentioned above the ‘Billabong’ sign near the entrance, and two ferals RIP on a high shelf inside. What are they and what effect has each of the three had on our native wildlife?

Another animal’s name resides inside the brand name on the yellow and black sign near Table number 84. When approximately is this animal thought to have arrives in Australia (and how is it thought to have come here)?

A native creature is mentioned on a sign nearby – what is the warning, and why does it say we should respect this creature’s feelings?

Challenge 16.

TRAVEL QUESTION – YOU NEED ONLY ANSWER TWO OF THESE IN TOTAL

Enter a café leading to a walk to the treetops on the mountain that sounds like a percussion instrument.

Paying to go through the turnstyle leads you to a great experience, but you won’t need to actually go through to answer these questions, just stand at the turnstyle and look through.

Who is Pavarotti and who is the decorator (and why?)

How many times does the creature that gives its name to the café appear within the yellow frame?

What insect family is represented in the glass terrarium to the left?

Challenge 17

Which of the following endangered species live in the Scenic Rim?

For those that do live in the Scenic Rim, tell us what they eat and what kind of habitat they live in.

v    Coxen’s figparrot

v    Night parrot

v    Eastern bristlebird

v    Regent honeyeater

v    Hastings River mouse

v    Bilby

v    Eastern quoll

v    Spotted-tailed quoll

v    Hairy-nosed wombat

v    Western swamp turtle

v    Mary River turtle

v    Fleay’s frog

v    Giant barred frog

And now for the final challenge …..

Challenge 18 (last one!)

Look at this list of animals that are found in the Scenic Rim and tell us which ones:

  1. Are found only in northeast NSW and southeast Qld
  2. Are found down south but reach their northern limits in southeast Queensland
  3. Are found up north but reach their southern limits in southeast Queensland or northeast NSW
  4. Are found extensively along the east coast of Australia

Dusky antechnus (Antechinus swainsonii)

Subtropical antechinus (Antechinus subtropicus)

Long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta)

Eastern pigmy-possum (Cercartetus nanus)

Common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecular)

Mountain brushtail possum or bobuck (Trichosurus cunninghami)

Feathertail glider (Acrobates pygmaeus)

Long-nosed potoroo (Potorous tridactylus)

Whiptail wallaby (Macropus parryi)

Brush-tailed rock-wallaby (Petrogale penicillata)

Eastern tube-nosed bat (Nyctimene robinsoni)

Eastern false pipistrelle (Falsistrellus tasmaniensis)

Hoary wattled bat (Chalinolobus nigrogriseus)

Eastern broad-nosed bat (Scotorepens orion)

Large forest bat (Vespadelus darlingtoni)

Hastings River mouse (Pseudomys oralis)

Australian water rat (Hydromys chrysogaster)

Fawn-footed melomys (Melomys cervinipes)

Orange-tailed Shade Skink (Saproscincus challengeri)

Short-limbed Snake-skink (Ophioscincus truncates)

Blue-speckled Forest Skink (Eulamprus murrayi)

Eastern crevice skink (Egernia mcpheei)

Major skink (Egernia frerei)

Land mullet (Egernia major)

Eastern water dragon (Physignathus lesueurii)

Southern angle-headed dragon (Hypsilurus spinipes))

Loveridge’s frog (Philoria loveridgei)

Fleay’s frog (Mixophyes fleayi)

Marsupial frog or Pouched frog (Assa darlingtoni)

(HINT – you can quite easily find the information in nature books in the library, or by using Google)

Good luck!  Remember, there are several prizes to win, and the satisfaction of solving puzzles and learning about the wonderful wildlife we share our region with.

Wildlife Tourism conference

Araucaria Ecotours guests learn how to approach animals with minimal disturbance

Australia’s third national Wildlife Tourism conference, “Wild Benefits” is to be held at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast, Queensland, 1st – 3rd September 2010

The call for papers has been extended until 30th June, and already a very interesting variety of topics have been contributed

There is a great line-up of expert keynote speakers, on human/wildlife relationships, the social, economic and environmental benefits of wildlife tourism, and the environmental measures needed to ensure minimal negative impact.  Several workshops are planned to encouraged discussion and debate on important issues such as how wildlife tourism can contribute to wildlife conservation and how best to interpret wildlife to a diversity of nationalities and  mixed groups.

Visit the Wildlife  Tourism Australia website for further details

Wildlife Photo competition

Do you enjoy photographing wildlife?

The Scenic Rim Wildlife Photography Competition is open until midnight 10th July 2010

There are four categories: Scenic Rim only, wildife in other parts of Australia, with both of these repeated for both adults and children. No captive, feral or domestic animals. Otherwise, wildlife of all kinds are permissable.

Visit the Flicka site to enter your photos, and visit the Logan and Albert Conservation Association website for details

Winners and other selected photos will be displayed at the Scenic Rim’s Wildlife Expo in Beaudesert on Sunday 18th July

How can wildlife tourism best serve wildlife conservation?

At the coming national conference on wildlife tourism (Wild Benefits) on the Gold Coast Australia, September 1st-3rd 2010 I’ll be leading a half-day workshop on ‘Walking the Walk’.  We often talk about the benefits of wildlife tourism to conservation, and many are making it happen in a variety of ways.  How can others involved in wildlife-related tourism – whether running a tour company, a wildlife park, an ecolodge or a farmstay – get started, and how can those already doing so most effectively increase their support of wildlife conservation?

You may like to read  Higginbottom, K., Northrope, C. and Green, R. J. 2001. The Positive Effects of Wildlife Tourism on Wildlife. Wildlife Tourism Research Report Series No. 6, Status Assessment of Wildlife Tourism in Australia Series, CRC for Sustainable Tourism

Do you think wildlife tourism can be of real benefit to wildlife conservation?  How? Would you like to share what you know about attempts that have worked well (and those that haven’t – they are all learning experiences), or ideas on new ways of making it happen? Please feel free to leave comments on this post, and of course please consider registering for the conference and joining in this and other discussions!