(Au)Hunters dump foxes in Tasmania

[Guest guest]

Fox Plot: How animal dumpers escaped law

By MICHELLE PAINE

05jun02

 

AUTHORITIES believe they know who brought foxes into Tasmania.

 

And they believe young foxes were dumped with their litters at four separate

sites around the state.

But under existing laws the fox smugglers will not be charged as the statute

of limitations has run out.

 

The likely fox plot was revealed yesterday by state Environment Minister

David Llewellyn.

 

He said the environmental vandals had brought the foxes into the state to

use them for shooting as sport.

 

However, Mr Llewellyn -- who is also Police Minister -- said the likely

suspects might still face charges.

 

He confirmed he was reviewing the statute of limitations as part of a

general review of the Parks and Wildlife Act.

 

Those responsible for the fox dumping may yet be answerable if the

Government decides to make the law change retrospective.

 

Mr Llewellyn said the allegations, which had been made 18 months ago, could

not be substantiated at that time to the point where charges could be laid.

 

He outlined the series of events to a Budget estimates committee after

Nelson MLC Jim Wilkinson asked whether the existence of foxes was certain.

 

" There were allegations that several litters of foxes were brought in.

Police worked some time on that and a lot of people were interviewed, " Mr

Llewellyn said.

 

" The series of reports of sightings (match) the original allegations. "

 

Clusters of sightings match the belief of the original distribution of foxes

for the purpose of hunting.

 

The dumping sites were:

 

* At Longford.

 

* South of Oatlands

 

* Near Campania

 

* Near St Helens.

 

Since the time of the allegations, circumstantial evidence pointed to their

being correct. The two shot foxes' DNA matched the allegations.

 

Mr Llewellyn said most significant had been analysis of the Symmons Plains

carcass revealing a small animal found only in Tasmania.

 

" But on top of that, DNA assessment showed the second fox was a sibling or

close relative of the first fox -- having their origin in southern

Victoria, " Mr Llewellyn said.

 

He was hoping for further information.

 

" We've issued the $50,000 reward and there has been quite a big response

from Crime Stoppers and all are being investigated, " Mr Llewellyn said.

 

The fox hotline receives six to eight sighting reports a week, 80 per cent

estimated reliable.

 

" Foxes have been reported just a few metres from people fishing, to

investigate what is going on before disappearing, " Mr Llewellyn said.

 

" Some people are dubious but certainly I am not and I can't afford to take

risks. "

 

He estimated the fox population at 11 to 20. There had been speculation the

young had been eaten by Tasmanian devils, keeping numbers low.