SYDNEY - Thousands of tourists from all over the world climb Australia's Ayers Rock every year. But it seems that, once atop of the Northern Territory monolith, visitors do more than just take photographs.
Tour guides have accused some tourists of using the Rock, which is considered to be a sacred site to local aborigines, "as a toilet".
Mr Andrew Simpson, general manager of the Aboriginal-owned Anangu Waai tour company, said many tourists have been defecating at the site. "That's been going on for years ... When people climb up the top of the rock there's no toilet facilities up there."
The climb takes at least half-an-hour each way, but Mr Simpson said no matter how desperate climbers were, it was not acceptable to use the Rock as a lavatory.
Mr Simpson's claims were made in a submission on the draft Uluru-Kata Tjuta national park management plan.
Such allegations could increase the chances of the Rock being closed to climbers. Environment Minister Peter Garrett is expected to make a decision on the plan next year. THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
From TODAY, World – Wednesday, 09-Sep-2009
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