Photographs of Damage resulting from Poor or Excessive Caving Activities

Mammoth Cave Straw Click on the picture for a 346Kb JPG photo of a straw from Mammoth Cave in the South-West of Western Australia. The impacts of tourism on this formation are highlighed in this photo. Many thanks to Paul Pickford for supplying the photo.
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The Halo Click on the picture for a 43Kb JPG photo of "The Halo". This wonderful helictite was destroyed in late 1965. The following information was provide by Stewart May who was on the trip. "I arranged a trip to Margaret River through a caving group in Perth - again I don't recall which... I don't really know how it happened but somehow, another fellow managed to attach himself to the party which consisted of the guide, Ian Bailey (a friend and colleague of mine and recently in the news as Kerry Packer's cardiologist!), and myself. This extra fellow seemed a bit odd from the start but we had no control over whether he came or not. I don't remember his name. When we got to the halo, I think he must have been last as Ian and I both got to see it but when he came into the cave where it was, saying "where is it?" or words to that effect, he stood up and broke it!!" This is the only know photograph of "The Halo" - thanks to Bill Crowle for a scan of the original photo and to Peter Bridge for donating a copy of Bill's photo to the WASG Slide Library.

Xmas Star Stal Click on the picture for a 80Kb JPG photo of a great Stalagmite that was in Crystal Cave in the South-West of WA. This wonderful formation was in the most protected piece of cave in Western Australia. (multiple cave gates and permits) The photograph was taken by Mark Sefton - "a long time ago", who was then a WASG member, Mark's comments were: "Last time I visited the cave (1991, or even mid 80s?), it had been smashed beyond repair. The stal was about 30-40 cm high and was beside the plastic pathway from where you detrog to the main delicate part of the cave. I guess some clumsy oaf may have been dragging a bag that was too big for him/her. Sad isn’t it." Thanks to Mark Sefton for the scan of the original photo.
A Pendulite Click on the picture for a 36K b JPG photo of John Tait admiring an isolated straw pendulite. This wonderful pendulite was destroyed after being accidentally "backed into" on a surveying trip.
Cave Pearls - Stolen, Giants Cave Click on the picture for a 66Kb JPG photo of a cluster of cave pearls that used to be at the base of the long stairway in Giants Cave. The day following this photograph the cave pearls were removed from the cave.
Calcified Drip Holes, Giants Cave Click on the picture for a 53Kb JPG photo of what used to be some beautiful calcified drip holes in the Ball Room in Giants Cave. Unfortunately they were very close to the main track through the cave and have been crushed to "death" by the passage of more than 35,000 uncontrolled visitors each year!
Track Damage Click on the picture for a 42Kb JPG photo of a path in Punchbowl Cave at Wee Jasper in NSW that was developed by visitors kicking stones aside as they walked in and out of the cave.
Guano Pile Damage Click on the picture for a 36Kb JPG photo of tracks left in an ancient guano pile after the gate to the cave was removed by unauthorised visitors. The damage done to the cave during this visit was significant. It required some 30 man hours of repair work and some areas of flowstone that were walked on cannot be cleaned without further potential damage to the cave.
Guano Pile Repair Click on the picture for a 28Kb JPG photo of the same area as the previous photograph after the repair work was completed. Besides the asthetic damage done to the guano piles (up to 10mx4m high) the foot prints acted as pit traps for the cockroaches and other invertebrates that inhabit the cave. Subsquent to this photograph the cockroaches and other terrestrials inhabiting the cave have completely "smoothed out" the guano piles.
Stalagmite Repair Click on the Click on the picture for a 31Kb JPG photo of a twice repaired stalagmite from Bride Cave in the South-West of Western Australia. Further description of the mite and its participation in a "Limits of Acceptable Change" study are provided.
Brides Cave Vandalism Click on the picture for a 45Kb JPG photo of footprints all over a flowstone in Bride Cave. This flowstone is behind appropriate track marking. Permit Systems and Trip Leader Training do not appear to have prevented leaders stopping brainless cavers needlessly walking all over flowstones. Photo by Trevor McGowan.