Sunday, August 25, 2013

THAR SHE BLOWS !... POOR LITTLE BLIGHTER


Frolicking  whale  calf   off   Magnetic  Island, North Queensland, which in its uncertain  lifetime  will  have to contend with grandiose  Queensland  port  expansion schemes , dredging,  spoil dumped  on   and near  the  Great  Barrier  Reef   Marine Park , toxic  run  off   from  mines  into  riverways   and  vast numbers  of  bulk carriers .  Currently  the   North  Queensland  Conservation  Council  has  mounted  a  campaign  to  stop Magnetic Island  turning  into  Mud  Island .  Earlier  this  year ,  there was   elation   when   whales  were  spotted  near  Darwin ;  there  was  talk of  a new  tourist industry-whale watching.  This  came to a sudden halt  when  a  dead baby whale , which  appeared to  have been  hit  by  a  ship , was  washed  up  on a  beach.