[DPI 12 July 2010 - By Daniel Joubert] MELBOURNE -- A range of state prohibited weeds including horsetails, alligator weed, salvinia and knotweed have been locked up as exhibits in a new display at the Melbourne Zoo. Launched on 1 July, this joint project between DPI and Melbourne Zoo gives visitors the opportunity to view and identify some of the highest priority invasive plants in Victoria. This display will encourage the 1.6 million visitors who visit the zoo each year to report any sightings.
Dr Hugh Millar, Executive Director of Biosecurity Victoria, launching the weed display.
When launching the display, Dr Hugh Millar, Executive Director, Biosecurity Victoria, said that this is an opportunity for Victorians to discover which weed species are a significant threat to many aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals. The majority of state prohibited weeds reported are from Melbourne’s metropolitan areas.
State prohibited weeds are the highest priority declared noxious weed class and either do not occur in Victoria, or are already present but can be eradicated. Visitors to the Melbourne Zoo can play a vital role in maintaining biodiversity by reporting these weeds.
For more information on this display, please contact Sarah Partington at DPI. For more information on state prohibited weeds please visit the DPI website.
