Indian Myna - History
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The Indian Myna
Photo: Richard Major
Australian Museum
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Indian Mynas occur naturally in tropical southern Asia but have been deliberately introduced into many areas outside of its native range as a potential biological control agent of insects, particularly locusts and grasshoppers (the name Acridotheres literally means grasshopperhunter).
Indian Mynas were introduced into Australia some time between 1862 and 1872. The main sites of release were Melbourne and Cairns. They now occur along the length of Australia’s east coast.
Residents of Tweed and Byron Shires first started seeing Indian Mynas in around the year 2000. At this time, they were only recorded in low numbers. The numbers of Indian Mynas in the region have since exploded! They are now present throughout the region, invading both the urban and rural landscapes.
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