Victorian Recreational Duck Shooting
Laurie Levy of the Coalition Against Duck Shooting has
campaigned tirelessly to save native waterbirds for the last 18 years. His efforts have resulted in Victorian
shooter numbers dropping from 95,000 in the mid-1980s to 17,600 in 2003, but of
those only a few thousand are still active. (Many shooters renew their duck
shooting licences in order to keep their guns.) On cruelty grounds, Labor governments banned recreational duck
shooting in WA in 1990 and in NSW in 1995.
There can be no so-called balance between conservationists and shooters
in Victoria. On behalf of the native
waterbirds, we are fighting for a permanent stop to the killing.
Because Labor currently controls both Houses of Parliament in Victoria we believed
Mr Bracks’ government would follow WA and NSW and put an end to this cruel
practise, but this Victorian Labor government has let down the 70% of
Victorians who want a permanent ban (A.C.Neilsen poll, Feb. '03).
Dr. Richard Kingsford (NSW National Parks and Wildlife
Service) has conducted annual aerial surveys of game bird numbers across NSW,
Victoria, eastern South Australia and most of Queensland since 1983. His surveys show that waterbird numbers are
currently at the lowest every recorded.
Last year, despite the presence of threatened and
endangered species (Painted Snipe and Freckled Ducks) at Hird Swamp near
Kerang, the Bracks Government left this wetland open to shooting.
By calling another shooting season (commencing March 19, 2005), the Victorian
government has disregarded the recommendation of ornithologists and scientists
and pampered to an aggressive minority who enjoy killing innocent birds for
fun. They will again be responsible for the unnecessary slaughter and wounding
of beautiful native birds that are part of Australia’s ecology and
bio-diversity. The spray from shotgun
pellets will knock out eyes and feet, smash wings and lodge near bones and
nerves, causing severe pain and suffering.
According to ballistic experts and the RSPCA, wounding rates range
between 30 – 50%.
Please help put an end to this barbaric behaviour. To join the duck rescue team on March 19
phone 04381 32730 and please write to Victorian Premier Steve Bracks, and
Environment Minister John Thwaites at 1 Treasury Place, East Melbourne, 3001,
asking for a total ban on recreational shooting of native waterbirds in
Victoria.
Last year rescuers brought in 78 dead or wounded birds
from just one wetland in northern Victoria. This is a photo showing some of the
birds who died pointlessly.
Lynn
Trakell
Coalition Against Duck Shooting