Science Congress Told Of N.Z. Deer Damage

Press, Volume C, Issue 29623, 20 September 1961, Page 21

Science Congress Told Of N.Z. Deer Damage

tB * D S. MILNE, Science Correspondent ot the “ffJL Herald"] Ihe problem of introduced animals in New Zealand’s forests, long a source of dispute, argument and even enmity between local sportsmen and Government officials, came up again at sessions of the 10th Pacific Science Congress at Honolulu.

But although the arguments were always serious ;:id often heated, they were generally just New Zealand affairs. Few of the many < verseas scientists in the f /rest biology sessions con■"ituted anything that could help New Zealand in the con. roi or management of her deer, goats, thar or chamois. It was soon obvious that there were, two schools of thought—the official Government view, presented byGovernment scientists, and the sportsman's view, presented by members of the ' xeeutive of the New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association. Leaders in putting forward the official views were Dr. K. Wodzicki. director of the animal ecology division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research; Mr P J McKelvey, of the Forest Research Institute; and Mr L. W. McCaskill, director of the newly-formed Tussock Grass, lands and Mountain Lands In. stitute.

For the sportsman, the cudgels were taken up by Messrs J. A. Anderson and J. B. Henderson, two members of the executive of the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association. Opposing Views The differing views were put forward at the symp ilium on animal-forest relationships. in which papers were presented by both Dr Wodzicki and Messrs Anders ;n and Henderson. Seme 30 species of mam. mats had become residents of native and exotic f ; n New Zealand, said Dr. Wodz c4L But six— the c-.;ufcu red deer, chamois, thar, wild and wild pig—were the most widely spread and most important ecologically and economically.

Forests in the high country of both islands had a very important role in preventing erapion and the destruction of watersheds, said Dr. Wodzicki. But as they were relatively unstable they were very vulnerable to degrading influences unknown during their development in an uninhabited country devoid of grazing and . browsing

Forest-animal relationships were difficult to study, but there could be no doubt that introduced mammals pro-

duced a change in forests which lowered their efficiency for protection. “It should be realised that few. if any. of the introduced mammal species will be eliminated. in spite of all efforts of eradication,” said Dr Wodzicki. “It is imperative, therefore, to acquire more basic information dn the ecology of the economically important introduced mammals, with a view to obtaining a more effective control and a better future for the forests.” The two deer-stalkers agreed onlhe need to acquire more basic information on the habits and life cycles of the introduced mammals. As a start, they said, they presented a paper on the Hima.layan thar in New Zealand.

'This paper is presented primarily to demonstrate the organised sportsmen's potential contribution to big game animal research,” they said in a foreword. “It represents the first comprehensive attempt to utilise information collected over the past seven years by the big game research group of the Deerstalkers' Association.” Since 1930, more than 21.000 thar had been shot by Gov-ernment-employed hunters in New Zealand, they said. But the absence of bny significant ecological study of the species rendered any interpretation of this kill figure almost impossible. Population Surges

In the opinion of Messrs Henderson and Anderson, undesirable population surges had been induced in many of New Zealand’s wild animal herds as a direct result of shooting programmes. No true approach to the management of thar had ever been made, said Messrs Henderson and Anderson. The objective had been extermination, but practically nothing, apart from kill tallies, was shown for 30 years’ work and expenditure. Thar would never be eliminated from the New Zealand scene, they said, and wnen the futility and expense of the extermination policy was finally admitted. rational forms of control developed and directed by animal ecologists could be instituted. But schemes for control or extermination usually neglected the possibility of a

thar being reinstated as a valuable game species, and established as a source of animal protein. . , , Value ef Thar '

New Zealand could not afford to neglect the economic value of thar. they said, and large-scale recoveries of thar and other wild meat by sportsmen could be envisaged for the future.

However, the Government scientists were quick to reply to this suggestion, and to the deerstalkers’ criticism of the Forest Society's policy of extermination. _

New Zealand's forests were essential for her economy, said Mr McKelvey. And the maintenance of her forests must depend on the reduction or, if possible, the extermination of the dangerous introduced animals.

Mr McCaskill, too. supported Government policy, and attacked the deerstalkers for their approach to the problem. Some support for the Government policy came from Dr. R. E. Warner, of the University of California. Dr. Warner described how wild pigs, goats and sheep introduced into Hawaii'had denuded hundreds of square miles of mountain country. Forest Damage

The introduced animals were still causing forest damage in the islands, said Dr. Warner. In spite of this there was talk by local sportsmen of the introduction of deer. The answer must be assiduous control in damage areas: until the animals were controlled reafforestation with native species would be difficult or impossible. Other countries, then, have the . same problem as New Zealand. But in few areas is it as economically important as in New Zealand.

The picture that emerged was one of control or eradication against management. But it is far from being a clear picture, with one simple answer.

New' Zealand is in a unique, and far from enviable, position. Game management may be possible with indigenous species of animals, where a natural balance has become established over many years. But experience both in

New Zealand and overseas suggests that management, by controlled shooting perhaps. is not as simple as the sportsman might make it appear.

The Honolulu conference has not given an answer to this question; what it has showm is that research into New Zealand’s wild life problem has just scratched the surface, and that much more must be done before the answers are known. Until then, it seems, the interests of the country must come before the interests of the sportsman.