NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE SERVICE FERAL ANIMAL CONTROL - DAMNED IF THEY DO AND DAMNED IF THEY DON'

Friday, 03 November 2000 10:00

"When the NPWS culls ferals there is an outcry and if they don't do anything they are accused of not controlling ferals by the same people. They are damned if they do and damned if they don't. What do NPWS critics want?"

"The outcry by local landowners and the RSPCA over legitimate and necessary feral animal control programs carried out by the NPWS at Guy Fawkes National Park should be read for what it is - uninformed hysteria," Total Environment Centre natural areas campaigner Fran Kelly said today.

"The simple fact is feral horses were overrunning the park, they had to be culled to limit the extensive damage already occurring there and the quickest, most efficient and humane way of doing this is by helicopter shoots - even the RSPCA has admitted this"

"Why aren't local landowners and the RSPCA consistent? Why don't they start bleating about all those foxes and rabbits, dogs and pigs that are culled on private and public land - because that is how ridiculous this whole thing is," said Ms Kelly.

"Unless feral animal control - by the easiest and quickest method possible - is carried out, we are condemning native wildlife to death by habitat and food destruction - as the horses were in Guy Fawkes - or by being preyed upon directly," said Ms Kelly.

Ms Kelly also condemned Minister for the Environment Bob Debus for "bowing to the hysterical demands of NPWS-bashers and talk back radio"