Might this mean we need to train professional eradicators with both high skills in species identification & a low propensity to shoot first & ask questions later?
Let's hope lessons have been learned from this disaster & that additional conservation efforts will be made to compensate for this tragic event.
In response to Wokos question ,"yes" anyone invovled in any cull or eradication program of any type should be trained in the ID of the target animal not just told the differance before the shoot "Deerstalker Association for ------ sake", a group made up of responsable shooters yes but hardly the best choice for being able to accurately ID water birds !
And don't get me started on relocating endangered species ,some groups seem incapable of learning from past mistakes !
The surviving takahe are South Island Takahe, Endemic to the South Island. The North Island takahe are extinct. The birds that were shot were SI takahe on the NI.
The SI takahe are now natively surviving in the Murcison Mountains. They were not alpine birds though, forced up there by deer grazing and predators.
takahe are flightless, grassland birds. They were only surpose to shoot flying birds.
Also one takahe was shot by a DoC worker on mana island years back.
I hve had to backspace over 3 comments - suffice to say when will we ever learn!
Peter
Might this mean we need to train professional eradicators with both high skills in species identification & a low propensity to shoot first & ask questions later?
Let's hope lessons have been learned from this disaster & that additional conservation efforts will be made to compensate for this tragic event.
It has been a hot topic on the NZ forum http://www.birdingnz.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4790
The takahe don't even belong there. the pukekos do.
Young Birder Age 14
Canon 40D + Sigma 120-400mm
I seem to recall postings about the wisdom of introducing endangered species to locations where they're not native.
In response to Wokos question ,"yes" anyone invovled in any cull or eradication program of any type should be trained in the ID of the target animal not just told the differance before the shoot "Deerstalker Association for ------ sake", a group made up of responsable shooters yes but hardly the best choice for being able to accurately ID water birds !
And don't get me started on relocating endangered species ,some groups seem incapable of learning from past mistakes !
Apparently the takahe are native to NZ. Native enough I would have thought.
The surviving takahe are South Island Takahe, Endemic to the South Island. The North Island takahe are extinct. The birds that were shot were SI takahe on the NI.
The SI takahe are now natively surviving in the Murcison Mountains. They were not alpine birds though, forced up there by deer grazing and predators.
takahe are flightless, grassland birds. They were only surpose to shoot flying birds.
Also one takahe was shot by a DoC worker on mana island years back.
Young Birder Age 14
Canon 40D + Sigma 120-400mm