AAP
An endangered finch that looks like it’s wearing wrap-around sunnies will be on a fast track to extinction if the Adani coal mine goes ahead in its current form, ecologists have told the government.
Adani’s mine in Queensland’s Galilee Basin will destroy a large tract of prime habitat for the southern black-throated finch.
The Black-throated Finch Recovery Team says the quality and amount of land Adani has offered to offset that habitat destruction is grossly inadequate – and less than half what’s actually needed.
Recovery team chairman and ecologist Dr Tony Grice says the Galilee Basin is one of just two parts of Australia where the finches are still found in any number, but populations are small.
The group has sent a report to federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg, saying Adani should not be allowed to proceed until adequate offset measures are established.
It’s estimated there might be fewer than 1500 black-throated finches left in it’s two remaining footholds, possibly about 1000 around Adani’s Carmichael mine site, and 500 but possibly fewer in the Townsville area.
FEATURED IMAGE: Australians visit India_Adani 2017, Flickr
