Thanks for this response, Greg. We seemed to have drifted from the salient
point - RECREATIONAL shooting in National Parks, rather than controlled
culling.
I am very much against recreational shooting or hunting of any species, as
should be obvious from my previous postings against duck hunting in Victoria
in 2009. Frankly I see the recreational killing of animals as a pointless
and cruel activity - an activity that should be left in the previous
century. Further, during the drought conditions in much of Australia
currently, there are other environmental and ecological reasons to disallow
such activities.
Whilst I am not a big fan of culling, I do understand that it is necessary,
provided it is done under controlled and supervised conditions. The NSW
government's decision to allow hunting of feral animals (not in National
Parks, incidentally) does not strike me as anything other than recreational
hunting by a different name - it is certainly not controlled or supervised
culling.
Paul Dodd
Docklands, Victoria
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Greg & Val Clancy
Sent: Saturday, 13 June 2009 9:48 AM
To: Peter Shute; Rob Geraghty; Birding-Aus
Subject: Shooting in NPs
The issue is not whether all shooters are crazed killers or not but whether
allowing recreational shooting in national parks is a wise move. On two
main grounds it is not wise. Firstly, having people shoot in parks, other
than in closely controlled culling programmes, would raise grave safety
issues as parks are being increasingly promoted as tourist destinations and
have thousands of visitors each year. Secondly, the irregular pattern of
the shooting, based on the availability and needs of the shooters, would not
offer an effective management tool for feral animal control. Shooting is
only one method for feral animal control and is often the least effective.
Re. shooting native animals I do believe that there are circumstances where
culling may be required, especially for Eastern Grey Kangaroos, but this
should only be carried out as part of a well co-ordinated programme and not
as part of an open season. The protection of Dingoes and their
re-introduction into areas where they have been wiped out would help provide
a control on kangaroo numbers as well as a controling foxes and feral cats.
Our wetlands have suffered so much in recent decades that an open season on
ducks should never be allowed again.
The government should not pander to the shooting lobby. Shooters can carry
out their activities at specially designated shooting ranges, on private
property with permission and, regrettably, in state forests. National Parks
are, and should always be, out of bounds to recreational shooters.
Dr Greg Clancy
Ecologist
Coutts Crossing
|
