GAME HUNTING IN FIORDLAND

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27011, 10 April 1953, Page 11

GAME HUNTING IN FIORDLAND

“NO INTENTION WHATEVER OF LIBERATING BEARS”

(ivew Zealand Press Association, WELLINGTON. April 9. There was absolutely no intention whatever oi liberating grizzly bears in the Fiordland National Park, said the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mi* W. A. Bodkin) today. The Minister was commenting on a suggestion by an Australian sportsman, Mr N. O. Hudson, that both grizzly and P, r °wn bears should be introduced in the Fiordland area. “If the grizzly and brown bears are not welcome in New Zealand, perhaps the black bear may be given a trial,” said Mr Hudson tonight. The black bear from North America was semidocile when young, but became a little ferocious at maturity. The Fiordland National Park was natural country for a further variety of large game, and the introduction of a ferocious animal would attract sportsmen. The hunter would be hunted, he said. “I interviewed stalkers going into camps and coming out,” said Mr Hudson, “and they reported that they had seen few wapitis even after 14 days. I flew over about 100 square miles of the country, and saw no more than half a dozen stags and wapiti bulls on the tops of the mountains during the four days’ inspection.” Mr Hudson said that the bears would be isolated, and he could see little danger to stock from them if they were released in the Fiordland National Park.