Virus impacting on rabbit numbers in Galloway

I NOTE David Young of Lowburn continues to decry the efforts of the ORC and the effectiveness of the lately released rabbit virus.

David is a well known and highly respected local identity in Central Otago and I care not to cross swords with him.

Also, I do not wish to enter into a debate about whether or not the ORC is on the right track within its scope of operations.

However, I would like to point out my own observations regarding this latest attempt at rabbit control.

Living in the hills above Galloway, I have a 12km drive to work in the early hours.

Two months ago that drive would have witnessed at least 60 rabbits on the roadside and the near surrounds visible from headlights.

There would have been at least one rabbit ‘‘roadkill’’ for every kilometre I travelled, often more than that.

Nowadays I am lucky to see more than one rabbit alive, and most likely that one will be inside town limits and, unfortunately for them, soon to become roadkill.

The rabbit ‘‘sign’’ I see on my own property is of very young ones, perhaps they were in ‘‘nursery’’ burrows when the virus was released?

However, the area I live in is distinctly low in rabbit numbers compared to prerelease times.

Pete Jenkins

Galloway

Budget

THE day of Budget 2018, your paper (17.5.18) was headed with a Budget preview banner, that included the phrase ‘‘What’s in it for you?’’

The problem with this is it reinforces the view that benefit to the individual is more important than benefit to society. This view causes narrow focus or apathy among voters, which in turn suppresses effective political participation and social development. Andrew Lonie

Waitati ...................................

BIBLE READING: If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him — Luke 17:3