QUEENSLAND NATIVE BEARS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3831, 16 August 1927, Page 15

QUEENSLAND NATIVE BEARS.

OPEN SEASON DECLARED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, August 5; Queensland forgot the privations and losses caused by its prolonged drought and the gloom cast over the State by the closing of the Mount Morgan min to protest mightily against a callous decision of the Government. That decision was to declare season for one month from August 5 for the koala, or native hear, as it is popularly called, a quaint, lovable., harmless little creature that inhabits the gumtops of Eastern Australia. No one has come forward with evidence that the koala has done harm to crops, and evidence is equally lacking that, despite the previous ban on its slaughter, ’s numbers were increasing. The approval of the short open season is said to have been given by the Government at the belieof some of the influential supporters. The threat is now made that at next election time the political aspect will be remembered. and the cry of “Who killed the native bears?” will be used to defeat the Government party. The beautiful soft skins of the bears are in great demand among furriers, and in spite of the general close season on them, ways and means are contrived to transform them into treasured possessions to adorn the fair sox. It is estimated that in the month of slaughter allowed by the Government over a million of the poor, sh.v creatures will be killed. The Government, in defence, declares forest rangers in permitting the killing forest rangers in permitting 1>- killing of the bears, and < c Minister responsible for the issue of the proclamation said that there could be no question of t’ extinction of the koalas through the declaration of open season. But none of the protestants have said that it would. What has stirred the population to mger is the fact that the gentle little denizens of the bush should be permitted to fall victims to callous guns at all. In the Brisbane papers, columns of angry correr dents reveal the depths to which the people have been stirred. Nature lovers are now petitioning the Federal Gov- nr. ent to stop the export of skins—the only wayrhe Government authorities can nullify the evil work of their State contemporary.