Call to ban birdshooting after dead ducks dumped
DEAD ducks found illegally dumped near Long Beach in Otago have sparked calls for birdshooting to be banned altogether.
Save Animals From Exploitation (Safe) campaigns manager Jessica Chambers said a member of the public found 15 to 20 dead ducks dumped illegally on Thursday.
The dead birds had been dumped in a rest area where many families stopped and showed how little regard some people had for the animals, she said.
‘‘Every year public spaces are used as an illegal dumping ground for dead birds shot by hunters,’’ she said.
Safe was calling on Minister for the Environment David Parker to ensure a process for reporting the illegal dumping of birds was easily accessible by members of the public.
It was unlikely the people responsible would be caught or face any kind of punishment, she said.
‘‘The reality is that this kind of behaviour will only stop when birdshooting is banned. Australia has already banned duckshooting in three states.
‘‘New Zealand is long overdue for a ban on birdshooting.’’
Otago Fish & Game communications officer Bruce Quirey said the dumping showed no respect for the environment or other people.
It appeared someone had taken most of the meat off the birds, but that did not excuse the illegal dumping of the remaining parts of birds.
Calls to ban hunting because of this type of behaviour were unwarranted, he said.
‘‘Fastfood wrappers are often seen dumped on roadside laybys in the same way but we don’t go around saying fastfood restaurants should be banned as a result.’’
There were 4000 hunters in Otago over opening weekend of the duckshooting season and the vast majority of them did the right thing, he said.
Any illegal dumping should be reported to the local district council, he said.
❛ The reality is that this kind of behaviour will only stop when birdshooting is banned