- A controlled fire being overseen by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has accidentally burnt out approximately eight hectares of grassland on Montague Island off the NSW south coast, resulting in the loss of 42 Little Penguins.
- The burnoff was originally set to trial the control a small area of Kikuyu grass, a rampart weed that is growing over seabird burrows and tangling and killing birds around the island.
- Comments about Charles Sturt University’s current work with the Little Penguin on Montague Island, as well as the fire, are available from the coordinator of CSU’s research program on the island, Associate Professor Nick Klomp, on (02) 6051 9905 or mobile 0419 614 550. Professor Klomp is due to arrive on Montague Island tomorrow, Wednesday 27 June, after 3pm.
- Twelve Charles Sturt University students are currently on the island to assess three methods of controlling Kikuyu: by burning, spraying herbicide and shading. While no more burning is planned as part of the research, the students are assisting the shading treatment by planting 13 600 native shrubs and trees to produce shade over the weed.
- CSU will work with the NPWS to monitor the regeneration of vegetation on the burnt area and so learn more from the unfortunate accident.
Fire incident on Montague Island
26 JUNE 2001
A controlled fire being overseen by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service has accidentally burnt out approximately eight hectares of grassland on Montague Island.
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