Author: ABAAdmin1842

Introduced species are animals too: why the debate over compassionate conservation is worth having

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Wild horses roaming the Snowy Mountains have long been the subject of fierce debate. Some say they’re feral pests destroying Kosciuszko National Park’s fragile native ecosystem. Others argue they’re national icons and an important part of Australia’s colonial heritage. This issue was the subject of last night’s ABC Four Corners episode. But the current debate misses one crucial perspective: that of the wild horses, whose fate is being decided. This is a perfect example of why the new movement of compassionate conservation raises the question of the animals’ interests in debates about conservation. Compassionate conservationists ask whether it’s ethical to… Continue reading

More Calls for Oversight of Australian Research

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There is growing concern that Australia needs an independent watchdog for academic research. Many other countries have some form of oversight and now even researchers, themselves, are pushing for better standards. Bellow are excerpts from 2 articles in The Converstation. ABA supports this view as research underpinning the management of wild horses needs to be unbiased, rigorous and open to new thinking. Research fraud: the temptation to lie – and the challenges of regulation Most scientists and medical researchers behave ethically. However, in recent years, the number of high-profile scandals in which researchers have been exposed as having falsified their data… Continue reading

The Price of Bad Science

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An article by ABC Investigations has thrown a spotlight on a lack of quality control of academic research in Australia. The article focuses on engineering and medical research papers that have been retracted, and a whistleblower who goes under the name of Artemisia Stricta. But the article also points to the lack of a scientific watchdog in Australia and the broader dangers of allowing poor quality and fraudulent research to proliferate. We have seen this impact on Brumby management in Australia as the invasive species mantra has biased research before it even starts and proliferates the belief that Brumbies are… Continue reading

Brumby re-homing policy ‘airy fairy’ say volunteers removing wild horses from national parks

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ABC Goulburn Murray news features ABA member group Hoofs2010 in this article on re-homing Volunteers wanting to remove and re-home more of Australia’s wild horses from national parks are calling for more government support. Both the New South Wales and Victorian governments last year adopted plans to reduce wild horse numbers with a focus on re-homing and high animal welfare outcomes, where possible. Volunteers eager to re-home horses have said their skills should be better utilised under the states’ latest plans. They are calling for help in the form of funding or in-kind support which would allow them to take more horses… Continue reading

ABA Summer Newsletter OUT NOW !

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In this issue: President’s Chat Member News ABA Response to KNP Horse Management Plan ABA Response to Parks Victoria Announcement to Shoot How to Measure if an Animal is Now Native New Member – White Alpine Equine Wild Horses Have Complex Social Groups Plus photos and gift ideas….. Continue reading