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Duck lovers call for hunting ban
August 29, 2003

Animal lovers have sent thousands of letters to the Victorian government demanding an interim ban on duck shooting be made permanent.

The Coalition Against Duck Shooting has sent about 8,000 letters to Environment Minister John Thwaites calling for the ban on duck shooting this year to be extended indefinitely.

Campaign director Laurie Levy said now that the Bracks government had a majority in both houses it should put a stop to the inhumane practice.

"The most important thing at the moment is that the number of duck shooters in Victoria dropped to an all-time low last year," he said.

"Public opinion (in support of shooting) has changed and the politicians in Victoria are still to catch up with that opinion."

Mr Levy said the governments own Animal Welfare Advisory Committee had recommended a permanent ban because of cruelty concerns last December.

A spokeswoman for Mr Thwaites was not immediately available for comment.

In January, Mr Thwaites announced the cancellation of this year's duck hunting season in a bid to preserve wild duck populations already under pressure from the drought.

"The number of water birds have been down for some years and if the overall waterfowl population is significantly reduced by hunting in 2003, it may take some time for it to return to average levels," he said at the time.

Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) fauna manager Robert Begg said the lack of water meant more birds were congregating in fewer places and they would be decimated if hunting was allowed.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/08/29/1062050662226.html

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