Cart

Poor/Inappropriate Development or use leading to Damage of Caves/Karst

caver next to the large stalactite in the previous picture. I don't know of too many Macdonalds this close to cave formations - enjoy your burger.

another large stalactite adorning an entry garden to a train station in Hong Kong!

caver saying "How did you grow like that??" To a large stalactite upside down in a train station garden in Hong Kong!

caver "wondering" what those cave formations (stalactites) are doing "growing" upside down in a train station in Hong Kong!

Museum Cave, Batu, Malaysia. This is one of several small cliff-foot caves. They have all been furnished with a remarkable collection of dioramas depicting various stories from the Hindu culture. Photograph courtesy of Elery Hamilton-Smith.

a road collapse at Liena (near Mole Creek) in Northern Tasmania, Australia. The main road was constructed above what has proved to be a water drainage line: filling and re-surfacing has already failed once. Photograph courtesy of Elery Hamilton-Smith.

the "reflecting pool" in Alexandra Cave at Naracoorte in South Australia. This artificial enhancement was installed by William Reddan in 1908. Photograph courtesy of Elery Hamilton-Smith.

the concrete footing being removed from around Cathedral Cave at Naracoorte in South Australia. Well done to Steve Bourne, the current cave manager at Naracoorte, for restoring this cave entrance to its "natural" state.

the artificial anchor used as a belay to enter Cathedral cave, as well as a closer view of the concrete footing. The good news follows - see the next photo.

a concrete footed "Pool fence" around Cathedral Cave at Naracoorte in South Australia. The fence footing has halted all of the natural water runoff that once entered the cave entrance.

the "famous" Tantanoola Tiger. The "Tantanoola Tiger" was a feral dog which raided sheep flocks in the district. Its stuffed body is now on display at the local hotel, and is said by locals to be an "Assyrian Wolf". This version, painted on a sheet of galvanised iron, was on display in the Tantanoola Tourist Cave for many years. The sign was removed from the cave in about 1982. Photograph courtesy of Elery Hamilton-Smith.

the entrance chamber to Silver Stocking or Cabaret Cave at Yanchep, Western Australia. This amazing construction and Art Deco work was completed during 1930's work relief program. The photograph is of a postcard issued at that time. Photograph courtesy of Elery Hamilton-Smith.

what used to be a Crystal Pool full of very large dog-tooth spar crystals in Crystal Cave (South-West WA). Lex Bastian (the founding President of the WASG) looks at what is and contemplates what was. This pool was "mined" for the calcite crystals. An axe head believed to be used in the destruction is calcified by one corner into the floor of the cave at this site.

Two cavers Roger Howlett (on the right) and (name coming) at the entrance to Ken's Cave in 1959/60. (Note the hemp rope.) This cave was adjacent to Caves Rd which the VW is parked on. The entrance solution pipe was at the bottom of the Karri tree in the photograph. When the road was widened the cave entrance was filled in. Excellent cave conservation :-). Photo donated to the WASG Slide Library by Brian Collins a visiting Tasmanian Caver.

Bulldozer and a jeep in a cave (USA). The bulldozer was being used to make a "road" in the cave for visitor access?

I am pleased to say that we have just completed a cleanup of this site and removed about 500 tonnes of general rubbish, 70 tonnes of recyclable metal, and 80 tyres. A 2 metre fence is currently being erected to keep the dumpers out. Trevor Wynniat, Senior Ranger, Forestry SA. March 2005.

Joy and Celebration!! The previous image of vandalism has been "repaired" by the cave managers. Fantastic job!! Rubbish removal in progress .

Heaps of car bodies dumped in Circuit Sinkhole in South-East South Australia. Pine trees and rubbish are the two main impacts on surface karst in the SE of SA. Some more recent additions (1992) to the sinkhole include a blue Mini-Minor and the back end of a fibre-glass yacht!

A rubbish dump in the world's longest lava tube, Kazumura Cave, Hawaii. Photo by Greg Middleton.

Another rubbish dump in, Kaumana Cave, near Hilo, Hawaii. Photo by Greg Middleton.

The largest garbage dump you have ever seen in a cave! The photograph was taken in a samoan cave called Ana Ole To and it's on the island of Savai'i. Photo by Greg Middleton.

Car bodies dumped in a New Zealand stream Cave - Wellington Hole at Waitomo. The photograph was taken by Stephen Swabey.

Rubbish removed from a cave on the Nullarbor plain in 1979. The photograph was taken by Andy Spate.

© 2020 Western Australian Speleological Group