Red deer project probably ruined

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33521, 30 April 1974, Page 12

Red deer project probably ruined

The Conservator of Forests for Canterbury (Mr J. W. Levy) said yesterday that 1.7 years of research into red deer population patterns had almost certainly been ruined by poachers.

i Research officers were; inow trying to determine) [whether it would be possible; [to continue with their work iafter the slaughter of red’ I deer in the catchments of ; )the Avoca and Harper! [rivers, said Mr Levy. ! The activities of poachers in the areas have been a bit-' ter blow to the scientists.! who began their studies of! red deer in 1959. Killing the[ dee, has made it impossible to find to what, extent, deer', populations would multiply when undisturbed.

; The poaching will be cos-, [tly to taxpayers, who will! probably get no return for) the thousands of dollars; spent on the work. SENSITIVE ISSUE It will also make it impossible to settle a sensitive political issue about the future of red deer. Somei groups have advocated for

(■years that red deer be eliminated because of their destructive activities. Other® have advocated that they be kept under control by supervised hunting. Had the Forest Service [been able to complete it, ■ studies it would have been [able to present, considerable 'scientific evidence in sup port of one course of action jor the other. I The experiments and observations in the area could not be done anywhere else jin the country.