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Feral Shooting Program Must Be Strictly ManagedThe Bracks Government must implement an appropriately structured program for the culling of feral animals in national parks by sporting shooters. By Philip Davis - 17th February 2005 - Back to News Shadow Minister for Agriculture Philip Davis said the agreement between Parks Victoria and the Sporting Shooters Association to cull feral pigs, goats and foxes in national parks needed to be well structured and supervised.
"This agreement will build on arrangements already in place between Parks Victoria and the Australian Deer Association for control of deer hunting in national parks, along the regular fox drives involving the Field and Game Association," Mr Davis said.
"But the Bracks Government must make sure the program only utilises fully accredited sporting shooters and there are clear guidelines on what can and can’t be shot."
Mr Davis said there had been an increase in anecdotal reports of feral pigs encroaching into national parks.
"This is particularly the case in northern Victoria and sightings have become more prevalent in east Gippsland," he said.
"Wild dogs are still a major problem in alpine areas, so this new culling plan should include agreements for further control of wild dogs.
"Wild dogs are very elusive."
Mr Davis also renewed his call for the Bracks Government to make better use of feral goats, which could be extremely valuable to the Government’s own Premium Goat Meat Asia Supply Chain Program run by the Department of Primary Industries.
"Goat is one of the most widely consumed meats in the world and is particularly sought after in Asia," he said.
"We should be harnessing this valuable natural resource, not shoot it and leave it to rot in a park.
"Wild dogs on the other hand are serious predators.
"Culling resources should be put into eradicating the wild dogs rather than wiping out a resource that could benefit the state’s exports."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com

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