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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-05-01 Daily Xml
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ECTOTHERMS

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (14:41): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Environment and Conservation a question about South Australian ectotherms basking in the spotlight of international fame.

Leave granted.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: South Australia is an arid and sunbaked state (most of the time, at least, if not today) and is home to some remarkable reptile species. These specialists in desert survival often enthral the young and can scare the bejesus out of the rest of us. However, their evolutionary significance is much greater than that, as most of us know—at least, those of us who believe in evolution. It is so significant, in fact, that renowned nature documentary maker David Attenborough visited South Australia for the filming of his series Life in Cold Blood—a title, I might add, that is scientifically a little out of date, but it is no doubt more media friendly than a more accurate title, such as The Life of Ectotherms, or perhaps Poikiotherms Under the Spotlight! But perhaps I will take my leave from the opposition's usual attitude to question time, and be no stickler for accuracy. Will the minister inform the chamber of the significance of David Attenborough's visit and the documentary he produced as a result?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health) (14:43): I thank the honourable member for his in-depth and well researched question, and his ongoing interest in these very important policy areas. I am sure that those who managed to see the show will agree that it was an amazing insight into South Australia's reptile population, and an unparalleled opportunity to showcase South Australia to the world.

As Minister for Environment and Conservation, I cannot overstate the importance of having a conservationist of the calibre of David Attenborough visit South Australia, let alone his dedicating such a significant portion of one of his nature documentaries to our reptile life. Thanks to this visit, hundreds of millions of viewers around the world will now have a better understanding of some of the reptiles that have managed to master this very harsh and often unforgiving land.

Filming this documentary was a quest that took Sir David to some of the most remote places in the world and, as one would expect, no definitive study of reptiles is complete without a visit to Australia. Funnily enough, despite our better known reptiles, such as the frill-necked lizard and the goanna, one of our rarest and, until recently, presumed extinct reptiles that caught Sir David's eye (I have had the rare pleasure of holding one of these amazing little lizards, and I can tell members that they are truly remarkable creatures) is the pygmy blue-tongue lizard, thought to be extinct for about 30 years until rediscovered in the Mid North in the early 1990s. DEH has been working with local land-holders ever since to identify and protect these colonies.

The lizards are so small that they live in abandoned trapdoor spider burrows and, even more remarkably, show a maternal instinct rarely seen in lizards, with the mother sharing their burrow with their young until they are old enough to fend for themselves. This is an important and historical document about these extremely rare lizards, and I am sure it will be a fantastic educational tool for years to come.

However, another local cold-blooded star featured in this documentary that is worthy of recognition is the common sleepy lizard. It is remarkable how a reptile as common as the humble sleepy might now go on to captivate a world audience, and it goes to show how lucky we are here in South Australia. I am sure, for many, it will come as a revelation that this lizard is monogamous, often partnering with the same mate for up to 20 years or more, which is a rarity amongst reptiles. Sleepys give birth to live young (I know you are impressed, Mr President), a characteristic which has evolved as a means to combat the extreme cold that we experience in our deserts. Not only that, but the live young are quite advanced in their development at birth—the process is the equivalent of a human giving birth to a three year old child, Mr President (I know you are impressed), according to Sir David on Monday night. It is truly remarkable.

While his visit was primarily for the filming of this documentary, it is also fantastic recognition for the hard-working DEH staff who are so passionate about preserving these amazing reptiles, and I congratulate all those who have taken it upon themselves to preserve these unique 'dragons of the dry'.

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