‘Dangerous’: Illegal beach act caught on cam

Authorities have revealed a horrifying act taking over beaches in NSW this summer – one that comes with a hefty fine if caught.

Authorities in have spoken out after noticing an uptick in dangerous behaviour around animals on NSW beaches.

Animal rescue service Marine Wildlife Rescue Central Coast have slammed “infuriating members of the public” following multiple instances of people entering a roped-off area that are home to little tern eggs.

Every year in October, the endangered sea birds return home to Karagi Point, The Entrance North to begin nesting.

But despite efforts to protect the fragile eggs, wildlife experts have revealed some are flouting the measures, and putting the rare birds at risk.

One video in particular showed a woman letting her dog off-leash in the cordoned-off area, ignoring the signs as the pooch ran free.

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For Ronny Ling, a marine mammal specialist for Marine Wildlife Rescue Central Coast, it is extremely concerning to see.

“The terns sense that there’s been dogs near their nests – that could make those animals fly away and not come back to their nests,” he told news.com.au.

“So, therefore, the eggs will be abandoned and won’t be hatched, and being an endangered species, it’s so important that we protect these animals for the future.”

According to Central Coast Council, disturbance to endangered species or their nests can result in a fine of $330,000 and/or 2 years imprisonment, as part of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. Staff and rangers are regularly patrolling the area.

But, this is just the beginning, with Mr Ling noting that this time of year, awareness around how to interact with animals seems to dip.

“People don’t realise that to see wildlife in this country is a privilege, not a right,” he said.

“And, wildlife is what it is – it’s wild life. So therefore, being wild animals, they’re very unpredictable, and they can be dangerous.

“The main thing is, they are so precious, and we need to respect that they have their rights too. David Attenborough said: people have no more right to light on this earth than any other living thing, and we need to respect that everything needs to be respected and protected.”

In addition to the terns, Mr Ling said he’s seen all kinds of wild interactions in the water.

“People try and jump in the water near dolphins, which is absolutely crazy. People don’t realise these are big animals. Big, powerful animals,” he said.

“People try and get too close to seals. Seals have very, very big teeth, and they do carry diseases, and that can affect people.”

Whales and pelicans have also been victims of beachgoer acts.

“People in boats getting too close to whales is another thing, particularly a mother while it’s got a calf – she’ll become very, very protective of that animal, and so people are putting themselves in jeopardy trying to get too close,” he said.

“Our pelicans also cop a really rough lot on The Central Coast, particularly with fishing. We’re constantly catching pelicans every weekend and removing fishing gear from these animals, and unfortunately some of it gets into their digestive systems. That can be really bad for the pelicans. It can lead to death for these poor animals.”

As we enter summer, and head toward the Christmas holidays, Mr Ling encouraged both locals and tourists alike to be mindful of their rubbish to keep animals safe.

“From the smallest cigarette butt to the biggest plastic bag, the way we get rid of them is so important,” he said.

Central Coast Council agreed with the sentiment, telling news.com.au that they’re asking everyone to “help keep the Coast pristine by disposing of rubbish correctly, including fishing tackle”.

Distance between yourself and animals is also a major factor, reminding people to be mindful on land and in the ocean – or potentially cop fines of over $3000.

“Don’t try to get too close to things. Give a good 40m between you and wildlife, so you can appreciate them, but they’re not feeling threatened or stressed by your presence,” he said.

“It’s also so very, very important that if you’re going into the ocean and you want to enjoy that, swim between the flags. We can all enjoy the water, we can share it with the wildlife and the other creatures that are out there, and we can do it safely if we follow those rules.”

Originally published as ‘Dangerous’: Illegal beach act caught on cam