SYDNEY, March 6, 2006 (UPI) -- Australia has launched a plan to save its endangered red-tailed black cockatoo, mascot for the 2006 Commonwealth Games that open in Melbourne next week.
There are only about 1,000 southeastern red-tailed black cockatoos surviving in Australia's woodlands. Their plight gained attention after the bird was selected as the mascot for this year's Commonwealth Games, which open on March 15.
Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell announced Monday that the government had allocated $1 million to help save the bird from extinction, The Australian reported.
The state of Victoria, home of the cockatoo, will also contribute to the program.
Victorian Environment Minister John Thwaites said the main threats to the cockatoo's survival were the loss of large hollow trees where the birds nest, the clearing of buloke trees, and extensive fires in stringybark forests. The bird relies on good seed crops in brown stringybark for survival.
The government plan will focus on protecting stringybark and buloke woodlands.
Copyright 2006 by United Press International
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