Australian Rare Fauna Research Association

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Australian Rare Fauna Research Association Inc.

Annual General Meeting 29th July 2012

The last year has been a very quiet one, with several members limited in active participation by health problems and commitments to family and work. Although field work no longer has the priority that was formerly possible, and we have lacked the publicity of the past, sighting reports continue to come in, public interest is sustained, membership is stable, and res...

Venue:- Pakenham Uniting Church Hall, 47 James St, Pakenham I(Melways ref 317-D8)

Time:- 12.00 for 12.30 p.m.

BYO lunch to share – tea & coffee provided.

12-30pm; Arrive and organise

1-00pm; Lunch

2-00pm; Annual Meeting;

2-30pm; Guest Speaker--Dr Bob Paddle: The Tasmanian Tiger - did disease aid its decline?

3-30pm Afternoon Tea

4-00pm; Peter Chapple Tribute, foll...

Following the spate of Yarra Valley sightings, ARFRA was invited to speak about our Mystery Animals to a group at Belgrave Library. Rosemary Chapple and Dorothy Williams were warmly welcomed by the National Trust and an interested audience commented on our PowerPoint presentation. Three more reports of big cat sightings were received, a not unusual outcome!

 Yet again reports of panther/puma sightings have been making the local papers in Yarra Ranges in past weeks. On February 15th the Free Press Leader reported a ‘great big black panther’ encountered on the Warburton Highway, walking along the roadside. The cat ‘reached the height of the bottom of her car window’ and reflected back big yellow eyes when the driver flashed her high beams to get a better look.

A week later Healesville farmer Ken Lang spoke of bo...

Venue:- Pakenham Uniting Church Hall,

47 James St, Pakenham I(Melways ref 317-D8)

Time:- 12.00 for 12.30 p.m.

BYO lunch to share – tea & coffee provided.

Guest Speaker:- Dr. Robert Paddle

Dr. Paddle’s research has taken him around the world, investigating records of thylacines, devils and other marsupial carnivores in zoos and museums. His forthcoming book focuses on evidence of disease, and its importance as a major factor in th...

As we approach the tenth anniversary of Peter’s premature demise in August 2002, we take this opportunity of honouring his painstaking work to bring about recognition and knowledge of our ‘mystery’ animals over three decades.

Old friends are invited to join us at the AGM - also to contribute any further research material as we work on gathering, extending and interpreting ARFRA’s collected information for publication.

Please bring or send your ...

Thylacine’s suspected ongoing existence in the Dandenongs

31st May 2012

Driving down an isolated, gravel road amongst the forest of the Dandenong Ranges, a woman finds herself following what appears to be a fox. As the animal strolls confidently down the road, she notices it seems to lack the typical features of the common introduced pest. Its tail does not resemble that of a bushy, fox-like tail. Instead, it is thin and straight with dark stripes following from its lower ba...

BOOK

After several earlier attempts we are now setting out to pull together and interpret the store of information collected by ARFRA since its inception.

The sudden interruption to Peter Chapple’s intensive work without completion of his ongoing specific projects made producing a publication difficult, as it was Peter as Research Coordinator who gathered together the team’s individual work for interpretation.

Collecting and organising the vast database, both so...