[Greens-Media] More protected species massacred on opening weekend of the duck shooting season - Pennicuik

[Amanda.Sharp at parliament.vic.gov.au]

More protected species massacred on opening weekend of the duck shooting 
season

Monday 17 March 2014

Victorian Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson Sue Pennicuik MLC, attended 
the opening of the duck shooting season, at Lake Elizabeth, near Kerang in 
northern Victoria.

"While few ducks were shot at Lake Elizabeth, I was glad to see DEPI 
officers present to ensure the safety of the large number of swans that 
were there. Every year, we see swans illegally shot and left on the water 
to die," Ms Pennicuik said. "The officers, however, seemed more focussed 
on enforcing new fines and banning orders on duck rescuers."

"Sadly, over the course of the morning, we received reports of another 
massacre of native water birds, including protected freckled ducks at Lake 
Lonsdale, near Stawell, where very few DEPI officers appeared to be 
present.

"The terrible evidence of this was presented outside the premier's office 
this morning by Laurie Levy and the Coalition against Duck Shooting. CADS 
laid out 28 of the 33 freckled ducks that they retrieved from the water at 
Lake Lonsdale, along with a number of other birds such as Eurasian coots, 
a magpie and a large number of the small pink eared ducks which hunters 
shoot but will either leave on the water or discard, if they are able to 
shoot larger birds later to make up their bag limits, which is illegal and 
despicable.

"It is clear the government cannot protect our threatened species from 
irresponsible shooters, nor is it able to prevent the mass slaughter of 
birds, including non-water birds on our wetlands," Ms Pennicuik said. "It 
is so distressing that Victorians still have to endure another three 
months of this state sanctioned slaughter of native water birds."

"On the opening morning last year, hundreds of birds, including rare and 
threatened species, were massacred by around 150 shooters at the Box Flat 
private wetland near Boort in Minister Walsh's electorate," Ms Pennicuik 
said. "The government has officially admitted to losing 104 freckled duck 
on that weekend alone, but CADS found more over the weeks and estimate 
around 250 lost last year. Now another 33 of this rare bird* have been 
lost on the first weekend."

"Despite a police and DEPI investigation - where shooters who admitted 
being present at Box Flat and the landowners were interviewed, amazingly 
no-one saw anything and no charges have been laid.

"Now we are seeing the same thing all over again and that is unacceptable. 
The only way to prevent it is to put a stop to the whole thing," Ms 
Pennicuik said. "Duck shooting should be banned in Victoria as it is in 
NSW, Qld and WA and it?s never been permitted in the ACT."

For further comment: Sue Pennicuik: 0409 055 875

*Freckled Ducks are unique to Australia and are one the rarest water birds 
on Earth 


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Parliament of Victoria                                                                                                                    . 

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