BIRDLIFE IN N.Z.

Press, Volume C, Issue 29602, 26 August 1961, Page 15

BIRDLIFE IN N.Z.

Species Hunted To Extinction

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) HONOLULU, August 24. Some species of native New Zealand birds were beng hunted to extinction, said Mr K. Westerkov, of the New Zealand Wildlife Division, yesterday, at the Pacific Science Congress in Honolulu. Mr W ester kov supported the Sarawak delegate, Mr T. Harrisson, who called on the congress to take measures to protect many near-extinct species of wildlife. Mr Westerkov told a conservation symposium that there were no land animals native to New Zealand, but, even so, hunters were not sparing the birds. “Most Wanton Killer” Other delegates described men as the most wanton killer of the world’s wildlife. Mr Harrisson, of the Sarawak Museum, said that man was the only predator of the Sumatra® rhinoceros, the orangutan, the clouded leopard, the argus and Bulwer’s pheasant, and other animals of his area threatened with extinction. A Nevada scientist, Mr R Miller, said that, in recent studies in Antarctica, he found that conservation of wildlife there bad even become a matter of concern. But wanton destruction or trophy seeking bad been curbed, he said. The congress will continue tomorrow.