Wildlife Control

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29937, 26 September 1962, Page 9

Wildlife Control

Sir. —The council of South Island Acclimatisation Sodeties recently advocated that control of the Southern Lakes be vested in the societies. On the contrary, I believe that all wildlife control in New Zealand should be managed by the Department of Infernal Affairs or alternatively by an amalgamation of the wildlife branch, the animal ecology division of D.S.I R. and possibly the fisheries branch of the Marine Department. On the credit side, acclimatisation societies have dope a lot tar inland fisheries and game administration. On the debit side they have done little research and some of their efforts have been harmful. The recent Canada goose fiasco may be quoted here, as well as misguided efforts to destroy harrier hawks and black shags. Properly organised wildlife work requires trained ecologists. At present there is little or no research or practice along ecological lines by the societies. Wildlife management could best be done by a government department with more resources and a better co-ordinated plan.—Yours, etc.. I J. COLLINS. I September 19, 1962.