DOC investigating Waikato cattle deaths in 1080 drop zone

Eight cattle found dead in the Waikato appear to have entered a 1080 drop zone through a broken fenceline, the Department of Conservation says.

DOC is investigating the animal deaths following a pest control operation in Mapara, south of Te Kuiti, nearly two weeks ago.

The cattle appeared to have breached a fenceline and entered the Mapara Wildlife Reserve where the poison was dropped on September 6, in an operation targeting rats, stoats and possums.

DOC was now working to establish exactly how the animals came to be in the area, operations director David Speirs said.

‘‘We have been working closely with the landowner concerned to confirm exactly what happened, and also to support them as any good neighbour would under these circumstances with the burial of the dead animals and we have offered to assist with feed for the remaining animals,’’ he said

Samples of the dead animals were taken for analysis. Results were expected within a fortnight.

Before this month’s 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) drop there had been comprehensive consultation with adjacent landowners, DOC said.

Staff had noted stock in the operational area during a preflight assessment of the boundary a fortnight before the drop and advised the farmer to move the animals.

The owners of the dead animals, dry stock farmers Paula and Mark Stone, confirmed they were told to move the cattle and had done so. However, Mark Stone told Radio New Zealand he would never have moved his cattle to the paddock where they eventually died if he had known the area he moved them from would not end up receiving 1080.

He said communication from DOC and the Ministry for Primary Industries had been poor and there had been ‘‘a complete breakdown’’.