Poison victims

Press, 22 May 1986, Page 12

Poison victims

Sir,—An article, “Victims of 1080 poison” (May 9), by Oliver Riddell, describing work on opossum control at the Forest Research Institute, is inaccurate. The only “rare and endangered native birds that compete with opossums” being studied by the Forest Research Institute in Rotorua is the kokako, in forests near Lake Taupo. Most opossum control research is the responsibility of the - Christchurch Division of F.R.I. None of this research shows that “rare and endangered native bird species, especially on the West Coast and on Stewart Island ... are attracted by baits dyed to attract opossums.” Baits, in fact, are dyed green to deter birds from eating them. The cinnamon essence used to mask the smell and taste of 1080 is also repulsive to some bird species, one of the reasons for using it. All of this work is at present being done "by,” not “for,” the Forest Service of which F.R.I. is part. The future of such

control work will not, however, rest with the new Ministry of Forests but, principally, with the Department of Conservation, — Yours, etc,, . • > > . . (Dr) COLIN O’LOUGHLIN, Director, Protection ' . . Forestry. -.7 > ft Forest Research. Institute. Christchurch. . ; May 14, 1986.