Tahr very much

Twizel: Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage says tahr numbers are far too high, and has made killing them a priority for the Department of Conservation.

She said 3000 tahr were shot in the Twizel area last week alone.

The tahr population was now estimated at 35,000 animals — more than three times the numbers allowed in the Doc tahr management plan.

‘‘We need to work to get that down.’’ Tahr were a priority in the Southern Alps because ‘‘those animals do the most damage’’.

PHOTO: ODT FILES Tahr are damaging the Southern Alps environment.