Reef trip lands Cairns dog owners in court
A trip to the Reef with a four-legged friend has turned into a costly outing for a Cairns couple who have been court ordered to pay a hefty fine by a Far North court.
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A trip to the Great Barrier Reef has turned into a costly outing for a Cairns couple who have been fined for taking their pet kelpie into a national park.
The couple took their dog to Michaelmas Cay in a small vessel before letting it ashore when they were busted by patrolling Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers.
On September 9 rangers observed the dog inside a restricted area and important seabird breeding zone of Michaelmas and Upolu Cays National Park.
The couple were charged with one count each of entering a restricted access area and bringing a domestic animal into a national park.
They appeared in Cairns Magistrates Court last Thursday where they both pleaded guilty to the offences.
The man was fined $300 and ordered to pay $551.40 for court proceedings. The woman was fined $200 and ordered to pay $450 for court proceedings.
QPWS Principal Ranger Dan Schaper said the court outcome was a strong reminder for visitors to be aware of the rules around where they can and cannot go, especially with pets.
“In general, if part of a national park is closed, it is closed for good reason, either to keep people safe or to protect the environment,” Mr Schaper said.
“We also don’t allow pets into national parks because they can carry diseases or injure protected wildlife.
“In this case, Michaelmas Cay provides critical habitat and breeding grounds for sea birds, which nest all year round on the coastal outcrops and can be easily disturbed by people and especially by domestic animals.
“If disturbed, adult birds could abandon their chicks and eggs, leaving them vulnerable to predatory birds and sun exposure.”
The dog at the remote islet was considered by the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation to pose a significant risk to the critical Great Barrier Reef sea bird breeding area.
Originally published as Reef trip lands Cairns dog owners in court
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