(Au) More cruelty in NSW-secret deer killing by authorities

[Guest guest]

Date 14:30 Feb 22

Subject LIBERATE: Deer Kill begins in secret / Deer story /

An email to rs of the Animal Liberation NSW mailing list

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Media Release -- February 21, 2002

 

INDICATIONS THAT DEER KILL BEGINS - IN SECRET

 

" We have reason to believe that the killing of deer in the Royal National

Park

has begun - in secret and without warning to local residents or

bushwalkers, "

said Joan Papayanni, President of the World League for Protection of

Animals. " It appears that secrecy is more important to National Parks than

public safety, " she said.

 

" We have been informed by a concerned local resident that in response to an

enquiry she was informed by NPWS that the kill was " imminent " but that no

signs would be placed warning that the kill was occurring. Infra-red cameras

are being relied on to detect persons in the area. As silencers are to be

used on rifles, this seems an inadequate means of ensuring public safety.

 

 

NPWS HUNTERS FLEE WHEN CHALLENGED

 

" In a visit to the park last night, numbers of National Parks officers were

seen over several hours, some outside a large storage area whose door was

immediately shut as our small party approached. One officer, when

questioned,

refused to confirm or deny that the shooting was taking place. Two other

officers in a truck were encountered emerging from Garie Beach. Initially

friendly, they reversed wildly and tore off at high speed when one of our

small group walked towards the back of the truck to see what it contained.

Garie Beach has been identified as the most likely place for the shooting to

begin.

 

" The gate leading to the beach was found to be unlocked before the truck

approached. There were truck marks and blood on the deer pasture near the

beach and fresh deer droppings - but no deer at a time of night deer are

likely to be seen in numbers in the area.

 

The level of care exercised by NPWS in this secret operation must be of

considerable concern as it is very possible people could have entered that

are

a unaware that shooting was occurring. It was clear that the NPWS officers

had no idea that we were there.

 

LACKADAISICAL ATTITUDE

 

" The whole operation appears typical of the lackadaisical attitude adopted

to this issue. Despite a supposed process of consultation, no notification

has been provided to the public as to the Minister's decision in relation

to the kill. And despite NPWS own earlier research showing that the deer

have little impact on native wildlife and that they are valuable in keeping

down introduced grasses and blackberry, a program of killing has been

devised

based on research which is incomplete and inadequate.

 

" The rifles used in the kill are totally unsuited for their purpose.

The .22 calibre rifle for the hinds and fawns, and the .223 or .22 magnum

for the

stags, do not have the impact to ensure an immediate death. The silencer

further reduces impact as well as accuracy. Considerable suffering will

result from this ill-conceived program to both the deer and the many people

in

the area who care for and value them.

 

THIS MEDIA RELEASE IS A JOINT INITIATIVE OF THE WORLD LEAGUE FOR PROTECTION

OF ANIMALS AND ANIMAL LIBERATION NSW.

 

Contact Joan Papayanni 9817 5326 (1.00 - 5.00 pm) thereafter 9817 3455;

Morna Evans (9544 3328); Katherine Rogers (0419 208 132)

 

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SLAUGHTER OR RUSA DEER IN ROYAL NATIONAL PARK

 

On 28 December, with no prior warning, and as NSW endured some of the worst

fires in memory, National Parks and Wildlife announced their intention to

'eradicate' the Rusa Deer in Royal National Park.

 

Since that first announcement, all claims made by NPWS as to numbers of

animals, competition for food, damage by deer and indeed any reason at all

why these 100-year residents of the park should be killed, have all been

hotly

and effectively disputed by local residents, researchers and animal

protection groups.

 

Long-time Engadine resident, artist and activist WENDI REIS wrote these

words as she reflected on the issue:

" The warm sunshine has just risen over Era , a coastal area of the

Royal National Park.

 

A deer quietly steps from amongst the bushes and raises its delicate face

to sniff the fresh morning air. She is now heavily pregnant and slower to

move. In the coming week she will give birth to her fawn . She is one of

fewer than 600 Rusa deer in the RNP. There are only three herds of wild Rusa

left in the world. She is unaware that soon she and her companions are to be

slaughtered by the NPWS. If she is lucky she will die instantly but if not

she might escape terribly wounded into the surrounding bush to die later.

While she lies dead on the ground, her baby will wait in the bushes growing

hungrier and weaker awaiting her return until death mercifully claims it.

This is definitely not a humane kill.

 

No longer will the bush walkers stop to admire these beautiful creatures

which have become part of the heritage of Sutherland Shire.

 

We must ask why the NPWS has decreed that they must die? Is it because

they are destroying the environment ? No. They have had little impact on

either flora or fauna of the RNP. Is it because there is insufficient food

for

both deer and wildlife? Definitely, no, when you survey the green foliage on

every side.

 

Then why is it? It is merely because they are an introduced species and

that cannot be tolerated. This sits uneasily with most people as they

realise

that they, too, are an introduced species. "

 

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