About Operation Bluetongue
 Operation Bluetongue has been a community based study of wildlife and human-wildlife interactions, conducted by researchers from UniSA in conjunction with 891 ABC Adelaide, using a Citizen Science approach. Citizen Science is a method of scientific data collection that is becoming popular internationally because it allows citizens to contribute to scientific endeavour in order to facilitate large-scale studies and, concurrently, it increases public awareness of science, scientific methods, and in this case, wildlife living in close proximity to people. Interactions with wildlife are an important way in which people can connect with the natural environment around them. In most cases, people enjoy these interactions and become more aware of their environment.
The study involved a public survey on the distribution and habits of six species of bluetongue lizards and the interactions of South Australian residents with these lizards:
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- Eastern Bluetongue Lizard (Tiliqua scincoides)
Distribution: Commonly found in urban areas in south-eastern South Australia. Also found in Victoria, New South Wales, most of Queensland, northern Northern Territory, and north-western Western Australia
- Sleepy Lizard/Shingleback/Stumpy (Tiliqua rugosa)
Distribution: Commonly found in less disturbed country towns, and widely distributed over the southern half of Australia, except for the coast and ranges.
- Western Bluetongue Lizard (Tiliqua occipitalis)
Distribution: Found in the drier parts of southern Australia, from the coast of Western Australia to South Australia, southern Northern Territory, central-western New South Wales and north-western Victoria.
- Blotched Bluetongue Lizard (Tiliqua nigrolutea)
Distribution: South-eastern South Australia, southern Victoria, southern and central New South Wales, eastern and northern Tasmania.
- Centralian Bluetongue Lizard (Tiliqua multifasciata)
Distribution: Northern half of Western Australia, to northern South Australia and the Northern Territory to western Queensland.
- Pygmy Bluetongue Lizard (Tiliqua adelaidensis)
Distribution: Recently rediscovered in the mid-north of South Australia.
The survey instrument was available online from September 11 to December 1, 2007, and was also available in print format. The online survey was supported by a series of fact-sheets that were available online, including an identification guide and information on bluetongue lizards in residential areas. All South Australians were invited to participate in this research. Participants could upload stories and photos, ask questions via an online blog, and schools were invited to write reports on their findings. Schools were sent a CD-ROM package of materials to help them participate in the survey and write reports.
The project was publicly launched in September 2007 at the Royal Adelaide Show, including a talkback radio segment and live public interaction by UniSA personnel. Thereafter, it was promoted via fortnightly talkback radio segments including UniSA personnel and experts from the South Australian Museum and industry partners, including FauNature. In addition, live online broadcasts were conducted from Rostrevor College and Rose Park Primary School with presenters from the ABC’s Behind the News program. A live radio broadcast was conducted at Rostrevor College at the end of the survey period to award them for their school report on Operation Bluetongue.
The public response to Operation Bluetongue, from both city and regional areas, was exceptional. In total, 1500 surveys were completed, with surveys coming from people in 237 metropolitan suburbs and 162 country towns. Within these surveys, 2831 lizards were recorded, including the endangered pygmy bluetongue. A preliminary report on the findings was released via 891 ABC Adelaide in February, 2008. The success of the project has led to Emma Vasey being a finalist in the Environment category of South Australia’s Channel 9 Young Achiever Awards, and a semi-finalist in the Science and Technology award. Further, this field of research is continuing, with all partners keen to be involved in Operation Possum, looking at five species of possums in South Australia in 2008. If you would like more information on Operation Possum, and to be kept updated on its progress, contact Philip Roetman at UniSA.
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