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D. Noxious Wild Animals Control Operations (1) Operations General operations were undertaken over the main areas of infestation. A total of 104,815 animals including 37,404 deer were destroyed and 13,111 deer-skins were recovered. Some of tlie areas worked in previous years were again made available for private stalkers and good work was done by this means in keeping down the deer population in such areas. (2) Special Campaigns The experimental campaign against opossums in a limited area was continued with improved results. A winter campaign against wallabies in the Hunters' Hills region of South Canterbury was again undertaken. Further action against these animals is required to bring them under control in this region. (3) Wild Pigs Control work in east Taranaki - western King-country was continued during the winter months in conjunction with operations against wild goats. As a result of this campaign it is considered that the numbers of these animals in the areas concerned are now so reduced that efforts by local residents can keep the animals in check. (4) Tahr and Chamois No special operations were conducted in the Mount Cook region, but the numbers of these animals destroyed during the year has increased and this is particularly so as far as chamois are concerned. As an incentive to deer-destruction employees to destroy tahr and chamois encountered during normal deer-destruction operations, the bonus on the former animals has been increased and this step has given satisfactory results. A survey of country in south Westland where chamois occur was undertaken during the year from which it is evident that operations against those animals will be necessary in that area. (5) Wild Goats The wild-goat population in the Marlborough-Nelson area having been reduced by previous years' operations to a degree where their numbers can be kept in check by locally-controlled operations, an arrangement with the Marlborough East Coast Branch of the Federated Farmers Institute was entered into regarding wild goats in that area. The arrangement has achieved successful results and several requests for a similar arrangement have been received from other branches of the Federated Farmers' Institute. (6) Stewart Island As a result of the cutting of additional tracks to deer-infested areas and of the inception of a more permanent form of organization very satisfactory results are being obtained. The number of animals destroyed during the year was more than double the number destroyed during the previous year.

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