Hunter extremists must be caught before someone is killed

The death of a dog following the deliberate distribution of poison in the public area of Kaitoke Regional Park shows the extreme position being taken by some in the hunting community, Forest & Bird says.

“The fact that some anti-1080 hunters are prepared to deliberately spread poison baits in public areas shows that they have little concern for public safety,” Forest & Bird Advocacy Manager Kevin Hackwell says.

“They are responsible for the death of a pet dog, but this could have been a child that was poisoned.”

The dog poisoning followed a threat, apparently by hunters, to kill kiwi in Tongariro Forest if the Department of Conservation continues to protect the kiwi by controlling predators with 1080.

Forest & Bird is calling on the Deerstalkers Association and other hunting groups to denounce these actions and to do all they can to assist the police in catching those responsible, Mr Hackwell says.

“This week extremist elements of the hunting community have shown their disregard for the law, for pubic safety, for endangered species and for the rural economy.”

It was also revealed this week that 200 fallow deer had been trucked to east Taranaki and illegally released for hunting. The release could have introduced bovine Tb to the farms in the area, and it created a threat to the health of the adjoining native forest in the Wanganui National Park.

“Sadly these incidents showed how a minority of hunters were prepared to put their own self-interest ahead of all else,” Mr Hackwell said.

“Ordinary hunters will be appalled by the actions of these extremists. Some will know who are responsible and they should tell the police before anyone is hurt by further irresponsible actions by a minority.”

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