Media Release Media Release Media Release

29 May, 2008

AACT BUILDS DAMS FOR THE DUCKS

Today in Franklin Square Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania (AACT) will build dams to attract native ducks displaced by the current duck shooting season.  This comes in response to Minister David Llewellyn's failure to monitor native duck numbers during the season; and his refusal to shorten the season given that native ducks are few.

 In a letter last week to AACT, Mr Llewellyn cited recently constructed farm dams as “potentially providing significant suitable habitat areas” that are not included in the annual counts conducted by DPIWE.  He further suggests that movement to these new areas may give a “false impression that populations are in decline”, because birds on these dams would not be counted.

 “AACT are intrigued by Mr Llewellyn's creative thinking about how low duck numbers may be accounted for in Tasmania.”  declared Chris Simcox of AACT.  “In other states they refer to the annual report by Professor Richard Kingsford that identifies prolonged drought and habitat depletion as causative factors in waterbird population decline.  In Tasmania they prefer to rely on supposition.  We have decided to put Mr Llewellyn's bizarre theory to the test by constructing our own artificial wetland and see whether the ducks are drawn to it.”

 The Game Management Liaison Committee, comprised entirely of shooting interests, suggested a shortening of the 2008 season in November 2007 in order to address public concerns about duck shooting.  This advice was ignored by the Minister, just as the scientific reports, that convinced Victorian and South Australian governments to cancel their duck seasons, were also ignored.  Mr Llewellyn will allow the duck season to continue in full, even though this is one of the worst years on record for native ducks anywhere in Australia.

“The media were there on the opening weekend, and saw as we did, that native ducks are in serious trouble.” announced Chris Simcox of Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania.  “There should have been an immediate end to the shooting, together with follow-up surveys to assess the status of native ducks in Tasmania.  Mr Llewellyn assured us he would do this monitoring but he as done nothing.  He denies that Tasmania is part of the serious decline in native waterbirds numbers right across eastern Australia.  Tasmania must catch up with other States by having independent surveys done here, and start managing native ducks responsibly.”

For more information and background to this campaign contact:

Chris Simcox, Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania,            Ph: 0429 015 110

A copy of the letter from Mr Llewellyn is available on request.