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Send "Ranger Bear" back home: Ingram

Independent Member for Gippsland East, Craig Ingram, has called on the Environment Minister, John Thwaites, to send Ranger Bear home and find a suitable local replacement.

By Craig Ingram - 4th April 2005 - Back to News

Parks Victoria has recently appointed a northern hemisphere bear (dubbed "Ranger Bear") as its new mascot and is selling him on their website.

Mr Ingram said that there were enough feral and introduced species in our state’s parks now, without Parks Victoria releasing another.

"For Parks Victoria to promote a foreigner as its mascot above our own native animals sends an appalling message to our Australian native species and conservation.

"I have written to the Minister asking that he recruits one of our own special native animals to replace Ranger Bear and have suggested that one of the following animals may fit the bill:

• Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby ranger
• Ranger Quoll
• Potoroo Ranger
• Barred Bandicoot Ranger
• Eastern Grey Ranger

"I am sure any of the above would be willing to take on the role.

"As a strong supporter of our spectacular national parks, I strongly object to Parks Victoria - supposedly the protector of our parks - introducing another feral animal into our spectacular wilderness and reserves," Mr Ingram concluded.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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