Media Release Media Release Media Release

27 March, 2008

LICENCED TO KILL

At 11am tomorrow representatives of Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania will be attending Service Tasmania to apply for a ‘Licence to Kill’. This action is planned to highlight the ease of obtaining a licence entitling the holder to kill up to 375 short-tailed shearwater chicks during the two-week Muttonbird recreational season.

Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania spokesperson, Julie Williamson, states:

‘Anyone aged from 16 years and over can walk in off the street and pay their $25 fee ($20 for concession cardholders) and obtain a licence. Applicants are given a 3 step written instruction on how to cervically dislocate a chick:
1. Hold the bird by the feet, head down, in the right hand.
2. Place the index and middle fingers of the left hand in the form of a V immediately behind the bird’s skull.
3. Finally turn the bird’s head upwards and away.
There are no tests involved and no requirement for applicants to demonstrate any knowledge or skill in being able to humanely kill muttonbird chicks. It is unimaginable how anyone can expect chicks to be humanely killed with these written instructions.’

Last year 66,476 chicks were reported as being taken from their burrows and killed during the recreational season. A further 90,000 chicks were killed during the commercial season.

Tasmania is the only State in Australia that allows the hunting of the Short-tailed Shearwater. The birds are protected in other States of Australia, with significant fines for offenders. There has been no legal season on Muttonbirds in Victoria for over 30 years. Because it is a migratory bird, it is also the subject of a joint protection project between Japan and Australia - the Japan Australia Migratory Birds Agreement.

Julie Williamson adds:

‘Short-tailed Shearwaters, commonly known as Muttonbird, migrate approximately 15,000 kilometres from the Northern Hemisphere to Southeastern Australia to breed and raise chicks each year. They raise only one chick a year and Tasmania ensures that over 150,000 of these chicks are killed each year. It is clear that Tasmania should take out a copyright on cruelty to bird species being the only State in Australia to also allow duck shooting this year.’

The recreational Short-tailed Shearwater (or muttonbird) season starts on Saturday and goes until 13th April. AACT is seeking a ban on the recreational muttonbird season.

For more information contact:
Julie Williamson, Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania, Ph: 0400 153 346