MENACE OF KEAS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21853, 16 July 1934, Page 11

MENACE OF KEAS

SOUTHERN SHEEP RUNS ACTIVE MEASURES NEEDED DEPREDATIONS BY DEER [from our own correspondent] OAMARU, Saturday The report of heavy losses among the flocks of sheep in the high country of Canterbury, made at a recent meeting of the Canterbury Sheepowners' Union, has caused renewed interest in the controversy regarding whether the kea attacks sheep or not. Runhoklers in tho back country of the South Island have lately stated that they are emphatic that keas do kill sheep and constitute a nuisance : -

One runholder in South Canterbury is importing six holster guns from the United States with which he and his shepherds will wage war against the kea. The weapons are 12in. shotguns, and they will kill at 20 yards. This runholder estimates that during the last 13 years, on his run alone, 500 keas have been destroyed. In the early days, according to Mr. T. D. Burnett, M.P., who has the Mount Cook station in the Tasman Valley, the kea was the cause of a potential loss of some thousands of pounds in wool and sheep to the high country runholder. For a long time the Government declined to do anything to try to stop the kea's activities. It is contended by many people that keas breed in the unoccupied Crown lands on the west side of the divide, where there is bush country, and come over the mountains to the Crown leaseholds on the east. It was in 1920 that it was decided to assist the high country sheepman by giving a bonus of 5s a head for keas. This resulted in a considerable difference in the losses, but it is believed that since the bonus was discontinued, on account of the depression, keas are again on the increase in some parts. The Mackenzie County Cbuncil still allows a bonus for every kea shot. When there was an especially heavy snowfall in the high country and green feed and berries were scarce the kea began his depredations. Sheep were powerless in snow about 3ft. deep. The kea alighted on the back of a sheep, which was easy prey under the sharp beak of the bird. Even when a sheep ran with fright the kea could hold on with ease.

There was another serious matter in the damage caused by mountain animals which were being allowed to spread over the Alps. The enormous damage caused by deer was well known and the Government was carrying out culling operations in various parts of the Divide. In some parts, however, deer were still doing untold damage in the alpine valleys, eating the undergrowth and grazing on the lands of up'country sheepowners. This also applied to chamois and thar, which were wandering in herds in parts of the Alps. It was contended that a more vigorous campaign could be instituted to drive the animals off sheep country.