"I'll reform firebugs"

A wildlife expert has called on the law to send arsonists his way, so he can educate them about the damage their actions cause.

Darren Darch has called on magistrates, police and youth workers to have young arsonists take “a walk and talk” with him in bushland.

“If we can get these young folks before they light fires, and change their thinking, and show them other ways how they can occupy themselves, then we can turn this around,” Mr Darch said.

He found about 20 dead animals following the bushfire in Strathalbyn on the weekend, when he also found and relocated two shingleback lizards, two bearded dragon lizards, and one western bluetongue lizard.

All the fauna were injured.

Mr Darch has mentored about 10 youths who have been caught in anti-social behaviour – and have since become fauna relocators.

Mr Darch has been finding and relocating fauna in Geraldton for three years.

“Our police and firefighters aredoing a great job, but the top end of the justice system lets us down a little bit,” he said.

“They seem to be a bit lenient in areas which are preventable.

“I think they should engage the community more in the punishment of these guys. It does a lot better than a jail sentence sometimes.”

Mr Darch said some youths needed leadership and mentors to build their self-esteem, to prevent them from going down the path of anti-social behaviour.

“Sometimes you awaken something in them, because finally there’s someone who just wants to show them a new path and a new direction,” he said.

“If they feel worthwhile enough to go in that direction, then that’s great.

“If you only affect three or four kids out of 10, then you’ve still done a great job.”

Mr Darch said people should be vigilant and if they see any suspicious activity, to report it to the police or fire brigade straight away.

He said he would happily take anyone — no matter their age — through bushland and show them the native fauna which are at risk.

“Let’s see if we can stop this before it becomes an issue,” he said.

“These youngsters, if they’re looking at getting out and lighting fires, ring me.

“Let’s go and have a look through the bush, and I can show you what’s there. There’s some pretty cool stuff in the bush, rather than just go out and kill it, ring me and let’s go for a walk. Do you want to be mentored, and come into our industry, because you can.”

Mr Darch said he was devastated he found a slender blue-tongue lizard dead in the fire.

He has been searching for one in his time in Geraldton.

“That’s the one that annoyed me the most,” he said, visibly upset.

“They’re only 15 centimetres long, and I found one of those dead in the fire zone.

“That just gets me.”