High numbers of deer killed in poison drop

This research paper was conducted after an aerial poison operation in the Blue Mountains, in Otago, 2001.
What's interesting is the number of deer that were killed. For those that suggest "deer aren't killed in 1080 drops!", this research was conducted by Landcare Research.
20 birds were also found.
However, birds are allot harder to find dead, than deer. In one study it stated.."The mortalities of non-target birds from 1080 poisonings may be underreported because many die in their nests or roosts and are never found (Koenig and Reynolds 1987)."

It is illegal to kill deer with 1080, they are a non-target species.
As can be seen in this paper, and as is consistent with drop zones we have investigated, the non-target kill rates are higher than the target - as would be expected with a practice of dropping poison laced food from helicopters...


G. NUGENT
I. YOCKNEY
Landcare Research
P.O. Box 69
Lincoln 8152, New Zealand

Abstract Incidental kills of deer during aerial -1080 poisoning of brushtail possums (Trichosurus
vulpecula) using baits containing sodium monofluoroacetate (1080) causes widespread hunter
opposition to this control method. We document the deaths of a large number of fallow deer (Dama
dama) after aerial-1080 poisoning in the Blue Mountains, Otago. Three deer fitted with radio collars all
died during the poisoning. Eight randomly located "search cells" (25-57 ha) were each searched twice.
One pig (Sus scrofa), 53 deer, 58 possum, and 20 bird (three native) carcasses were found. Deercarcass
density varied widely between cells (2.2-38.6/km2), reflecting differences in deer density but
apparently also the amount of ground cover. The total number of deer killed was estimated using
Lincoln indices. More fawns were killed than larger adult deer. Comparison with historical harvest data
suggested that between two-thirds and three-quarters of the deer present had been killed. This unintended
by-kill will have reduced deer impacts on native plants and the risk of Tb spread or persistence in
deer. However, such incidental benefits may not offset the increased indirect "social" costs likely to
arise from increased hunter opposition to use of aerial-1080 poisoning....

For the full story, click here

Macquarie Island Poison Drop Kills More Than Expected

Macquarie Island, situated between Tasmania and Antarctica, has recently been subjected to an aerial poison drop.

Click here top see the ABC story

The drop is similar to the one conducted on Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands, off Auckland last year that is believed to have killed over 7 dolphins, large numbers of penguins and fish, and hundreds of native birds...and some suspect, the mysterious dog deaths that were attributed to poisonous sea slugs.

The 24 million dollar project has reportedly been halted - after it was found to have killed 431 native birds, from 6 species -  until a review has been completed.  Click here to see story

The 300 tonnes of Brodifacoum bait designated for the Macquarie Island project was manufactured in New Zealand.

Click here for link to Parks and Wildlife Service Pest Eradication Project

SAFE - take stance on 1080

SAFE (Save Animals from Exploitation) have come out strong with a stance against the use of 1080 poison.

This is more good news in the effort to have 1080 banned in New Zealand.

Good on you, SAFE.  Click here to visit SAFE website 

US bill to ban 1080 can be viewed at congress here

Progress

The government has agreed to fund a 4 million dollar trial on the effectiveness of a new, self-setting, instant kill trap which targets possums, rats and stoats. Click here to see press release. Super stuff!

The trial won't start until next summer, 2011/2012, and will run for 3 years - which means more 1080, in the mean time, which is concerning.

This new step in testing and developing this trap is good news, no question.

But why has it taken so long to develop something so simple? This trap is a result of private enterprise - good old kiwi ingenuity - should it not have been a government funded research institution that developed something so simple? Apparently not.
Why? Because our government funded - alternatives to 1080 - departments are looking for alternatives by developing new poisons. New toxic substances that can be dropped from aircraft - always developing that more lethal, targeted poison - and as a result, we believe, they're not putting enough effort into responsible, targeted trapping technology.

For heaven's sake, we can build huge bridges that span harbours, put tunnels through mountains, put man on the moon (I think), carry hundreds of people through the air at a time, from country to country - and you tell me we can't catch a few possums, rats and stoats? Non-sense!

We need to replace, or re-educate our inDoCtrinated, poison loving bigwigs that currently run our pest management departments. What's needed is sensible, humane, and clean-green thinking, community minded appointees.
We may then start to see harmony, unity, and respect return to communities, and to those charged with managing our wilderness areas.

AHB not worried if US closes factory - AHB can source 1080 from China???

In a recent press release, Penny Fairbrother of the AHB stated that the AHB are not concerned with the Alabama 1080 factory being closed down because they could simply source 1080 concentrate from China. (click here for news link)

We understand there is no legal source of 1080 in China.

However, it is believed 1080 is being produced illegally in China - where it was reportedly banned years ago.

The following medical report and comments were supplied anonymously...

12. AN OUTBREAK OF SEVERE RODENTICIDE POISONING IN NORTH VIETNAM CAUSED BY ILLEGAL FLUOROACETATE


Ho¨ jer J,1 Hung HT,2 Du NT,2 Kylin H,3 Rosling H.4

1 Swedish Poisons Information Centre, Stockholm, Sweden;
2 Poison Control Centre, Hanoi, Vietnam;
3 Department of Environmental Assessment, SLU, Uppsala, Sweden;
4 Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Background: Since January 2002 well over 100 cases of rodenticide poisoning have been admitted to the Clinical Toxicology Unit of the PCC in Hanoi. The responsible product is brought illegally from China, where it is illegally produced. It has been suspected to contain some organic fluorine compound. Methods: NMR spectroscopy, using standards of fluoroacetamide and sodium fluoroacetate as references, was used to analyze four liquid samples of the type of rodenticide ingested. The clinical findings in three typical cases are summarised below:


Case series - Initial GI symptoms - Hyperreflexia, rigidity, S-CPK ". Recurrent seizures


ECG findings - Hospital duration = outcome...
8 years, F accidental Yes Yes Yes T inversions and supravent. tachy. 11 days=survival
17 years, F suicidal Yes Yes Yes Prolonged QT; SVT 7 days=survival
21 years, F suicidal Yes Yes Yes Prolonged QT; VT; ventric. fibr. 1 day=fatal


Results: The presence of sodium fluoroacetate was demonstrated in all four rodenticide samples analysed. Conclusion: Although the extremely toxic substance sodium fluoroacetate has been banned as a rodenticide in China and Vietnam for many years, extensive illegal use is apparent and severe cases of intoxication are numerous.


Are the AHB considering negotiating with an illegal supplier of 1080, who may be responsible for hundreds of cases of human poisonings? Should they come clean with the NZ public and explain exactly who their proposed source of 1080 is in china, and prove that they are not dealing with anyone who is guilty of supplying 1080 illegally? Certainly!

  Click here for link to US bill to ban 1080

Can Predetermined Outcomes in "Science" be Bought?

Can science be bought? "Of course not!" is the anticipated retort from our research facilities.  
I ask this question because the "science" used to support the use of aerial 1080 in New Zealand, certainly indicates that it can.
Poor research - often relying on guesses, estimates, predictions and crystal ball gazing - is, it seems, all that is required to ensure the continuance of the broad scale, poisoning operations we have in this country.
Some of the science is so poorly structured and obviously bias, that once exposed, will likely have far reaching, negative consequences for reputable, educational institutions across New Zealand.
If reliable research really is hard to conduct on an ecosystem level, then perhaps our authorities shouldn't be dropping large quantities of poison-laced food, from helicopters, into our environment - and then fund the advocacy science to justify the practice!..

The following letter of resignation http://www.climatedepot.com/ , is from Harold Lewis - Emeritus Professor of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, former Chairman; Former member Defense Science Board, chmn of Technology panel; Chairman DSB study on Nuclear Winter; Former member Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards; Former member, President's Nuclear Safety Oversight Committee; Chairman APS study on Nuclear Reactor Safety Chairman Risk Assessment Review Group; Co-founder and former Chairman of JASON; Former member USAF Scientific Advisory Board; Served in US Navy in WW II; books: Technological Risk (about, surprise, technological risk) and Why Flip a Coin (about decision making)

In many ways, the issues he highlights below resemble a similar culture entrenched in the methodology of research being conducted into pest control in New Zealand...
Hal Lewis: My Resignation From The American Physical Society


Friday, 08 October 2010 17:19 Hal Lewis .From: Hal Lewis, University of California, Santa Barbara

To: Curtis G. Callan, Jr., Princeton University, President of the American Physical Society
6 October 2010

Dear Curt:

When I first joined the American Physical Society sixty-seven years ago it was much smaller, much gentler, and as yet uncorrupted by the money flood (a threat against which Dwight Eisenhower warned a half-century ago). Indeed, the choice of physics as a profession was then a guarantor of a life of poverty and abstinence---it was World War II that changed all that. The prospect of worldly gain drove few physicists. As recently as thirty-five years ago, when I chaired the first APS study of a contentious social/scientific issue, The Reactor Safety Study, though there were zealots aplenty on the outside there was no hint of inordinate pressure on us as physicists. We were therefore able to produce what I believe was and is an honest appraisal of the situation at that time. We were further enabled by the presence of an oversight committee consisting of Pief Panofsky, Vicki Weisskopf, and Hans Bethe, all towering physicists beyond reproach. I was proud of what we did in a charged atmosphere. In the end the oversight committee, in its report to the APS President, noted the complete independence in which we did the job, and predicted that the report would be attacked from both sides. What greater tribute could there be?

How different it is now. The giants no longer walk the earth, and the money flood has become the raison d'être of much physics research, the vital sustenance of much more, and it provides the support for untold numbers of professional jobs. For reasons that will soon become clear my former pride at being an APS Fellow all these years has been turned into shame, and I am forced, with no pleasure at all, to offer you my resignation from the Society.

It is of course, the global warming scam, with the (literally) trillions of dollars driving it, that has corrupted so many scientists, and has carried APS before it like a rogue wave. It is the greatest and most successful pseudoscientific fraud I have seen in my long life as a physicist. Anyone who has the faintest doubt that this is so should force himself to read the ClimateGate documents, which lay it bare. (Montford's book organizes the facts very well.) I don't believe that any real physicist, nay scientist, can read that stuff without revulsion. I would almost make that revulsion a definition of the word scientist.

So what has the APS, as an organization, done in the face of this challenge? It has accepted the corruption as the norm, and gone along with it. For example:

1. About a year ago a few of us sent an e-mail on the subject to a fraction of the membership. APS ignored the issues, but the then President immediately launched a hostile investigation of where we got the e-mail addresses. In its better days, APS used to encourage discussion of important issues, and indeed the Constitution cites that as its principal purpose. No more. Everything that has been done in the last year has been designed to silence debate

2. The appallingly tendentious APS statement on Climate Change was apparently written in a hurry by a few people over lunch, and is certainly not representative of the talents of APS members as I have long known them. So a few of us petitioned the Council to reconsider it. One of the outstanding marks of (in)distinction in the Statement was the poison word incontrovertible, which describes few items in physics, certainly not this one. In response APS appointed a secret committee that never met, never troubled to speak to any skeptics, yet endorsed the Statement in its entirety. (They did admit that the tone was a bit strong, but amazingly kept the poison word incontrovertible to describe the evidence, a position supported by no one.) In the end, the Council kept the original statement, word for word, but approved a far longer "explanatory" screed, admitting that there were uncertainties, but brushing them aside to give blanket approval to the original. The original Statement, which still stands as the APS position, also contains what I consider pompous and asinine advice to all world governments, as if the APS were master of the universe. It is not, and I am embarrassed that our leaders seem to think it is. This is not fun and games, these are serious matters involving vast fractions of our national substance, and the reputation of the Society as a scientific society is at stake.

3. In the interim the ClimateGate scandal broke into the news, and the machinations of the principal alarmists were revealed to the world. It was a fraud on a scale I have never seen, and I lack the words to describe its enormity. Effect on the APS position: none. None at all. This is not science; other forces are at work.

4. So a few of us tried to bring science into the act (that is, after all, the alleged and historic purpose of APS), and collected the necessary 200+ signatures to bring to the Council a proposal for a Topical Group on Climate Science, thinking that open discussion of the scientific issues, in the best tradition of physics, would be beneficial to all, and also a contribution to the nation. I might note that it was not easy to collect the signatures, since you denied us the use of the APS membership list. We conformed in every way with the requirements of the APS Constitution, and described in great detail what we had in mind---simply to bring the subject into the open.

5. To our amazement, Constitution be damned, you declined to accept our petition, but instead used your own control of the mailing list to run a poll on the members' interest in a TG on Climate and the Environment. You did ask the members if they would sign a petition to form a TG on your yet-to-be-defined subject, but provided no petition, and got lots of affirmative responses. (If you had asked about sex you would have gotten more expressions of interest.) There was of course no such petition or proposal, and you have now dropped the Environment part, so the whole matter is moot. (Any lawyer will tell you that you cannot collect signatures on a vague petition, and then fill in whatever you like.) The entire purpose of this exercise was to avoid your constitutional responsibility to take our petition to the Council.

6. As of now you have formed still another secret and stacked committee to organize your own TG, simply ignoring our lawful petition.

APS management has gamed the problem from the beginning, to suppress serious conversation about the merits of the climate change claims. Do you wonder that I have lost confidence in the organization?

I do feel the need to add one note, and this is conjecture, since it is always risky to discuss other people's motives. This scheming at APS HQ is so bizarre that there cannot be a simple explanation for it. Some have held that the physicists of today are not as smart as they used to be, but I don't think that is an issue. I think it is the money, exactly what Eisenhower warned about a half-century ago. There are indeed trillions of dollars involved, to say nothing of the fame and glory (and frequent trips to exotic islands) that go with being a member of the club. Your own Physics Department (of which you are chairman) would lose millions a year if the global warming bubble burst. When Penn State absolved Mike Mann of wrongdoing, and the University of East Anglia did the same for Phil Jones, they cannot have been unaware of the financial penalty for doing otherwise. As the old saying goes, you don't have to be a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing. Since I am no philosopher, I'm not going to explore at just which point enlightened self-interest crosses the line into corruption, but a careful reading of the ClimateGate releases makes it clear that this is not an academic question.

I want no part of it, so please accept my resignation. APS no longer represents me, but I hope we are still friends.

Hal

Harold Lewis is Emeritus Professor of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, former Chairman; Former member Defense Science Board, chmn of Technology panel; Chairman DSB study on Nuclear Winter; Former member Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards; Former member, President's Nuclear Safety Oversight Committee; Chairman APS study on Nuclear Reactor Safety Chairman Risk Assessment Review Group; Co-founder and former Chairman of JASON; Former member USAF Scientific Advisory Board; Served in US Navy in WW II; books: Technological Risk (about, surprise, technological risk) and Why Flip a Coin (about decision making)

Congratulations Simon! - Local body elections

Congratulations Simon!

Firstly - Thanks to all those 4739 people (final count) that voted for me!
Secondly - A big thanks to those that helped with my campaign. It was incredible to see the support that came from all around the peninsula.
After final counting, I missed out by 378 votes! Not too bad.
It is true - I am dedicated to working for our environment, and I would have been dedicated to serving the people of the Thames-Coromandel Peninsula. However, Simon has won this election, and he is the best man for the job - that's the way the majority has voted.

We have a few more projects that we are committed to completing - and yes, they are all for the betterment of our environment, and New Zealand. I will then most likely head to Australia - to the delight of those perpetrating the ecocide taking place in this country, no doubt - and hide under a sun-scorched rock for a while.

We don't make lots of money from our documentary work, and no, we don't enjoy the condemnation that comes with presenting the truth.

However, we are in a position that means that we are able to present the facts about the atrocity that takes place in our wilderness areas, every week.

I hope that one day, those of you with blinkers on will finally open your eyes and realise what is really taking place in our forests.

Thanks again to those that supported this campaign.

Final results....

Constituency – Thames Coromandel (1 seat)

Candidate Name
FRIAR, Simon 5117

GRAF, Clyde 4739
SIELING, Dirk 3229

SPCA invites The Graf Boys to speak to their inspectors

Steve and I were invited by the SPCA to do a presentation for the North Island Inspectors and Centre Management Workshop 2010 conference held in Taupo, which covered Saturday and Sunday. We used a PowerPoint presentation, photos, and also showed the first 15 minutes of Poisoning Paradise, which included some of the animal welfare issues. About 70 inspectors from across the North Island, and a couple visiting from Australia, attended the 90 minute presentation.

Anti-1080 Taupo mayor Rick Cooper was also present, and addressed the crowd. The overall presentation went well, with a good number of the inspectors showing genuine interest and concern. It was interesting to note that only about 10% of the inspectors had seen Poisoning Paradise. Rick Cooper offered to have copies of Poisoning Paradise duplicated and supplied to the inspectors. As a result of this opportunity, I believe we will start to see more action from SPCA.

We later listened to a presentation from visiting American forensic scientist and entomologist (insects) Dr. Jason Byrd, who is also a member of the American SPCA. He investigates crime scene forensic cases, and is employed by a university in Florida, I think he said. He appeared on TVone's Closeup tonight. He showed similar concern to the aerial use of 1080 as Dr's Pat and Quinn Whiting-Okeefe, and other scientists and experts, in regard to dropping food, laced with poison, into an ecosystem.

Dr Byrd has agreed to be interviewed for the new doco we are working on, due for release next year.
He raised similar concerns to the late Mike Meads (who was also an entomologist), in regard to the Krebs cycle and how the Krebs cycle is a process used by most organisms. Even the ones that break 1080 down. He suggested that when the 1080 is broken down it is possibly changed into some other toxic entity.

Dr Byrd pointed out that our native koura, among other things, will most likely be affected, and killed by 1080, if enough is eaten - whereas our DoC denies 1080 harms koura. DoC claims koura can eat 1080, and just pass it out with no harm being done. We dispute this, and believe it should be researched further, as where koura are present, they are poisoned in all streams 3 metres in width and under, on all aerial drops where cereal bait is used. They are also a food source for other animals and fish.

Dr Byrd also pointed out that plants have a Krebs cycle, and depending on dose, could be negatively affected by up taking 1080. (Once again, depending on dose) This could translate into poor flowering, or growth for example. Admittedly DoC have continued to drop their application doses more and more over recent years. I believe this is because they have still not been able to find benefit, and only harm is being realised. I think when DoC get to the stage where they go so light in dose, that they aren't actually dropping the poison at all - is when they will find benefit.

After all, up until the 80's, when 1080 had never been used over much of the country, and even when wild animal numbers were high, and had been so for many years, the forests were in a far better state than they are now, including higher presence of bird numbers, and species - when compared to areas where 1080 has been repeatedly used.

CLICK HERE TO SEE US BILL TO BAN 1080

Death by 1080 Vs Humane Death - Compare the photos



The following is a series of photos recently taken of two deer.

One series is of a necropsy of a deer killed by 1080.

The other is of a deer necropsied after being

shot through the neck, and died instantly.

Scientists (Dr Charles Eason, Dr Hugh Barr) estimate over 20,000 deer are killed every

year in New Zealand by 1080,

plus tens of thousands of native birds, and many pets and farm animals.

Death, for an animal shot through the neck, is instantaneous.

An animal poisoned with 1080 will take from two hours to die,

to several days, depending on the dose.

Some animals are only half  poisoned, and left to recover with

varying degrees of disability.

1080 is a favourite "tool" of our Department of Conservation,

the Animal Health Board, and some regional councils ...

who are all holding hands in perpetrating this gross

act of New Zealand ecocide!  

There are alternatives, and we will be addressing those in our new documentary. 

However, there is no question that 1080 is grossly inhumane,

and that as New Zealanders, through our authorities continued use

of 1080, we are all basted with the mass scale, animal cruelty brush.

DEER SHOT THROUGH NECK, KILLED QUICKLY




HIND KILLED BY 1080. Legs straight out, head twisted back.
This is consistent  with all deer found dead in 1080 drops.



FACE OF DEER THAT WAS SHOT



THIS IS THE FACE-DOWN SIDE OF HIND, KILLED BY 1080



EYE OF THE SHOT DEER

OTHER EYE OF THE HIND KILLED BY 1080 

BETWEEN BACK LEGS OF THE SHOT DEER

BETWEEN LEGS OF THE HIND KILLED BY 1080

LUNGS OF THE SHOT DEER

LUNGS OF DEER KILLED BY 1080

LUNGS OF SHOT DEER

HEART OF THE SHOT DEER

HEART OF THE HIND KILLED BY 1080

To view a documentary on the use of 1080 poison in New Zealand Click Here - Poisoning Paradise 

At the request of a concerned person, this photo has been added to show the bullet EXIT wound in the neck of the animal that died humanely, and was autopsied. It's the same deer, in the same position as the first photo in the series above. Yes people, any autopsy of an animal killed by 1080 will show the same thing, and so will any autopsy of an animal humanely killed by shooting. Death by 1080 is grossly inhumane, and that won't change because of our ignorance, or not wanting to accept it. 

To view a documentary on the use of 1080 poison in New Zealand Click Here - Poisoning Paradise

Poisoning Paradise wins Ireland film festival award

Poisoning Paradise has just won the ENVIRONMENT &
ECOLOGY category of the International Film Festival in Ireland.

Six films from around the world were nominated in this category.
Winners were announced in Ireland last night.

This is fabulous news for everyone who believes there are better
and more respectful ways to manage our environment and animals.

Thanks to everyone involved in making Poisoning Paradise.

Click here for news release

CLICK HERE TO VIEW IRELAND FESTIVAL RESULTS

Chris Short - anti-1080 campaigner loses battle with cancer

Through his solo-man, anti-1080 protests, Chris Short managed to draw international attention to the aerial 1080 operations which he so despised.

For many years New Zealand authorities have subjected our wildlife and people to repeated aerial 1080 poisoning operations - and for many years the people have fought back. But few battlers are willing to walk the plank Chris Short chose.

Chris was battling cancer - terminal cancer - when he ventured up Mt Tongariro to demand that our documentary Poisoning Paradise be played on national TV.

This came completely out of the blue for us. We had only met Chris, briefly, while at an Animal Health Board meeting several months earlier, so we were humbled by his stance.

National TV was not to grant Chris's request, but he certainly drew interest from around the world.

As Taupo Mayor Rick Cooper stated "you have to admire a man that draws a line in the sand and then defends that stance, no matter what".

Chris died on Tuesday, the 31st of August - he was 51 years old.

Staunch campaigner against 1080 dies of cancer - Stuff

Poisoning Paradise nominated in Ireland

Poisoning Paradise - Ecocide New Zealand, only days after winning the Environmental & Ecology International Heart of England film festival award, has scooped another nomination at the International Film Festival Ireland.

Poisoning Paradise - Ecocide New Zealand is an in-depth, and critical film that exposes serious issues in New Zealand's aerial use of the deadly pesticide-insecticide 1080. New Zealand uses 90% of the world's annual production of the poison, which is manufactured in the United States. A bill to ban the manufacture, import and export of 1080 was introduced into US Congress in July.

However, we are starting to see increases in the level of spin-doctoring and glossy brochures put out by the Department of Conservation and the Animal Health Board, designed, it would seem, to counter the impact this film is having. Slowly but surely, though, the public are becoming more aware, and less tolerant of our poisoned animals taking from hours to days to die an inhumane, and protracted death. If international interest can help end this mass scale cruelty, then so be it!

Poisoning Paradise is one of six films nominated for the Environment & Ecology award in Ireland. The festival will run 6-12 September. For information on the festival visit http://www.amritsa.com/eire/index.htm Ends.

Click here for press release.

Poisoning Paradise wins UK award

Poisoning Paradise, the Skeptic Society's Bent Spoon winner from 2009, has just won the best film award in the Environmental and Ecology International category at the Heart of England Film Festival in the UK. Poisoning Paradise was one of six international films nominated for the award.

This win is a strong endorsement for Poisoning Paradise. It seems it will take international intervention before the poisoning of our forests is properly addressed, and more responsible methods of pest management are employed.

We are still hoping national TV will play Poisoning Paradise, allow the public of New Zealand to become better informed, and make up their own mind about the reckless use of inhumane toxins.

We'd like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved with making Poisoning Paradise, and to all the brave people that gave their testimonies, evidence and expertise. You're all marvelous!

We're now working on a 3rd and final chapter in a trilogy of 1080 documentaries, which focuses on safer, more community-friendly alternatives to the aerial distribution of 1080 poison. This film is not expected to be released for about 6 months.

A video trailer of Poisoning Paradise can be viewed at http://www.blogger.com/www.thegrafboys.org Ends.

Click here for press release.

Council urges AHB review

Council urges AHB review
By Laura Mills Hokitika Guardian Wednesday 11th August, and also Greymouth Star 11th August - Council demands AHB review

The Westland District Council has called on Parliament to not only cease all aerial 1080 drops, but review the entire Animal Health Board (AHB).
Mayor Maureen Pugh recently tabled a petition before Parliament's local government and environment select committee indicating that at least 90% of Westland residents were opposed to the toxin.
The committee then called for submissions, which have now been publicly released.
The Westland council's submission urged that "mass poisoning" be halted immediately until there could be a properly designed and executed study, independant of the Department of Conservation and Animal Health Board, showing the benefit of 1080.
The council also noted concern that, as a charitable trust, the AHB was not subject to the Official Information Act, and should be reviewed to see if it offered value to the taxpayer.
"The inability for the public to have access to the information held by the AHB breeds suspicion and mistrust within the community."
It said the AHB had avoided formally recording stock deaths.
"The tolerance for 1080 poisoning is at an all-time low and alternatives 'must' be trialed," the council submitted.
Against that, the Animal Health Board's submission said that in the past decade its strategy of using 1080 to kill possums had been effective in reducing Tb-infected herd numbers.
However, the West Coast still had disproportionately high infection numbers: "The region holds about 4% of all cattle and herds in New Zealand yet has over 30% of the nation's infected herds."
It said the Environment Risk Management Authority (Erma) had reviewed 1080 three years ago and found its use outweighed the adverse effects.
The board noted that the council had offered to work with the AHB and DOC to look into alternatives to the toxin, and while it was happy to do so, "we do not see any realistic prospects."
It had engaged independant survey professionals and in December 2009, 52% of those interviewed did not like 1080, but accepted the need for its use, the AHB submitted.
DOC was the third party to make a submission, and said the case for the continued use of aerial 1080 was "compelling."
It presented case studies, which showed 1080 was the cheapest option - in the Cascade this year the cost of ground control was $48.70 a hectare, compared with $17 a hectare for aerial control. The total saving by using aerial poison was close to $1 million.
Select committee chairman, the West Coast - Tasman MP Chris Auchinvole, yesterday could not say when the submissions would be considered: "It's on the timetable for consideration."

THE COROMANDEL FIGHTS PENINSULA POISONS (TCFPP)

The following post, about to appear in the Hauraki Herald, is from battlers based in the Coromandel, and in response to DoC's poisoning campaign at Kennedy Bay...

THE COROMANDEL FIGHTS PENINSULA POISONS (TCFPP)

We are a group of local residents who passionately believe in controlling pests without poisoning the entire wildlife system at the same time.
On August 6 2010 a full-page advertorial appeared in this paper written by the new DOC manager for our area, Melissa King-Howell, "to inform the general public about the possum control planned for Kennedy Bay."
By August 6 this operation had only a week left to run and this is the first thing most people had heard of it.

WHY DO IT?
Some trees in the bush block are "suffering from excessive possum browse" says M King-Howell. And yet the possum count is only 5.8%. Thus the excessive browse must be either an invention or caused by some other creature. Too many kaka perhaps. Either way, reducing that figure of 5.8% to 3.8 or 2.1 is not likely to make much difference. Fact is, that figure was already reduced as most of the possums had moved to an untreated neighbouring block of pines which was in flower at the time of poisoning.
Why choose bait-stations which carve tracks through the bush at 200m grids creating more damage than an army of possums in a life-time?
M King-Howell adds that the by-kill of rats with 1080 has produced increases of tui and bellbird after one breeding season in other Peninsula pest control operations.
This too turns out to be untrue as Iris Jacobs' peninsula research reveals.
Iris' report is a little shaky on the facts but two unquestionable points emerge:
1. Tui, and pigeon did not increase their numbers during the first breeding season after rat-poisoning and
2. Before the second breeding season the rat population was larger than it had been before the poisoning began.
This increase of rats after poisoning is reckoned to be between 2.5 and 6 times the original population according to all the research that has been carried out on rat abundance. (See Sweetapple, P., et al 2006)
M King-Howell has used only four sentences of anecdotal whimsy to sell the need for this Kennedy Bay project. The rest of her page is devoted to "selling" the poison 1080.

1080 CONTINUES TO KILL DOGS:
"Without protection, predators will kill nine out of ten kiwi chicks" says M King-Howell. The only known predator to kill 9 out of 10 kiwi is dogs. Does this mean that the Kennedy Bay 1080 is aimed directly at dogs?

1080 GETS INTO WATER:
M King-Howell quotes Suren 2006 as an authority on 1080 breakdown in water. Had she read his actual report she would have found that Suren 2006 had done no research whatsoever into the breakdown of 1080 poison. All the "independent water tests" she talks about were taken by the Health Board. The Health Board is part of every aerial 1080 team and in no sense can be labeled "Independent".
"Water testing done after 1080 operation is carried out to confirm that toxin is no longer present. This is to ensure that intakes of water used for drinking are not reopened during the short time when 1080 will be present after an operation. Testing is thus for clearance, rather than to detect the presence of 1080." (Hood 2007)
Mr Suren 2006, on the other hand, went looking for poison and every water sample he took within a four hours of a 1080 drop was found to contain 1080. Where it goes to no one knows.
M King-Howell has taken one line from Suren's executive summary, but she has ignored the damning evidence contained in the heart of his report.
"As all spin doctors know it is a standard trick to write an Executive Summary to emphasise the points you want journalists to pick up, and leave the detail buried in the report itself where hopefully it will remain undiscovered." (Wishart 2008)

1080 CARCINOGENIC:
"1080 is not carcinogenic" says M King-Howell, as if this is an advantage. How do we know if 1080 is carcinogentic or not? If you get 1080 poisoning cancer has no time to develop; you are dead in a few days.

1080 LIKE DDT:
The sales propaganda for 1080 has been identical to NZ's other toxins such as DDT, dioxins and Brodifacoum. All these toxins have enjoyed continued use in NZ long after their use in the wild has been banned elsewhere.

WORKERS' HEALTH:
Even though research published in DOC's submission to ERMA revealed that 25% of all 1080 workers were carrying 1080 in their systems, M King-Howell states that "Their health is monitored and no issues with 1080 have been found". No worries for Melissa perhaps but if 25% of my workers were carrying detectable traces of 1080 it would be an issue for me.

ALTERNATIVES:
$4-5 million per annum is spent on scientific research into 1080 and other toxins. Traps, encapsulated cyanide and the bio-dynamic methods of pest control have all been developed with private money. They are cheap, totally species-specific, do not cause secondary poisoning, do not get in the waterways, and leave no hidden residues.
Why have the government research teams for so long had nothing to do with the development of these very genuine alternatives?
The only "alternative" toxin to emerge from decades of research and tens of millions of dollars, is called PAPP, which Mr Eason tells us is perfect in every way. Only thing is PAPP is harmless to possums!

POLICE:
An army of DOC staff arrived in Kennedy Bay in the early hours of the morning to fill 1200 bait-stations with 1080 and get the job done in 24 hours. They were accompanied by another army of police dressed in anti-terrorist gear and carrying guns and expecting to fill their paddy wagons. They closed off the poison area with numerous road blocks. They stopped the few locals going to work and interrogated them as if they were terrorists. 32 policeman-days lost that the police were not chasing real crime.

COST:
There has been much unnecessary spending on this operation which has left the community seething and divided.
Kennedy Bay is the first example of how DOC's poisoning regime will be carried out under Melissa King-Howell: No consultation or any information prior to poisoning. Secret poisoning if possible. If word leaks out beforehand, as it did in Kennedy Bay, and there follows the slightest murmur of disapproval, Melissa will wheel in the SWAT squad and quiet that disapproval with anti-terrorist measures.

There are several websites available that contain balanced information about the use of 1080 in New Zealand.

http://www.inchem.org/documents/icsc/icsc/eics0484.htm

The Stop 1080 facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/STOP-1080/175357873459?ref=ts

The Graf Boys
http://www.thegrafboys.blogspot.com/ http://www.thegrafboys.org

French TV crew to visit NZ

A French TV journalist is arriving this month to do a story on our possum, and the use of 1080 poison in New Zealand.

Dr. Quinn Whiting-Okeefe was asked by the researcher about papers used to support the use of 1080 poison. His comments, in blue, follow...

The essential facts and references are in Poisoning Paradise.

As scientists we would make five points:

First, the basic claim that one can put a universal poison into high quality food and drop in indiscriminately into ecosystems and only have a negative effect on two target species is a priori extremely improbable. Such a claim should be viewed with utmost suspicion unless supported by the highest quality of scientific research. In fact there is no research at all addressing ecosystem level consequences of this bizarre program. Furthermore, individual studies are so poorly done and obviously biased as to be laughable.

Second, the NZ government's program of mass ecosystem poisoning is unprecedented so far as we can determine, i.e., no other country is doing or has ever done anything remotely similar to what the Department of Conservation in New Zealand is doing, unless one counts the US military’s mass poisoning with agent orange (dioxin) during its part of the Vietnam War, the consequences of which for the people of Vietnam were disastrous including birth defects and increased rates of various malignancies.

Third, DoC’s own data show convincingly that many native species of birds and invertebrates are being killed by its aerial 1080 program. In several species the measured per drop kill rate is over 20% and in one over 30%.

Fourth, there is not a single scientifically credible study showing a benefit of aerial 1080 to any native species—not one. In fact, DoC’s “research” attempting to show this is almost entirely junk.

Fifth, universally accepted standards of research design are almost never followed by DoC funded studies. In fact it is recently claimed in an author-less paper published by DoC that such standards are “not applicable to ecology research” in New Zealand. What this implies is that the claims of the authors of these papers represent little more than the prejudices of their bosses at DoC whose budget is increased by at least $100M/year by the aerial 1080 program that indiscriminately spreads enough 1080 around the country to kill the entire human population of New Zealand 4 times over.

The whole thing is difficult to believe.

Unfortunately, there appear to be very few scientists in New Zealand that really care about what's taking place in our environment, or perhaps it's that they really don't know.

Or are they just afraid to speak out?

One thing I can say is, that what scientists like Dr. Whiting-Okeefe are saying is more consistent with what we've observed after years of investigating poison drop zones.

The view that 1080 is helping our forests, and that bird-life is abundant after aerial poison drops, is complete non-sense. We have traveled the country, visiting many drop sites, and we are yet to see any evidence of benefit from the use of 1080 poison. There is none!

Police apologise for incident on West Coast

Inspector John Canning, of the Greymouth Police Station, today phoned and apologised for the conduct of a police officer from his district, that was involved in the incident in which one of our camera microphones was broken. The incident took place at one of the recent Westland 1080 protests sites, on Monday evening, the 5th of July.

Inspector Canning was caught up in the incident after it appears he was informed by area staff that it was the behavior of Clyde Graf that induced the reaction, and that this behavior was the cause of the microphone to be torn from its mount by a police officer. However, film footage from the incident contrasts this view.

The comments published in the Hokitika Guardian and Greymouth Star newspapers, 2 days after the incident, were considered as defamatory.

Inspector Canning also suggested that we arrange a quote for the damaged microphone, and forward it to Greymouth Police Station, for payment.

Inspector Canning stated that he has begun an investigation into the incident.

To view the incident posted on a You-tube by Wyn Hibberd, click here.

Deer in our forests

The argument of whether deer belong in our forests or not, comes up regularly. Many groups, and educational institutions attempt to inDOCtrinate their members and students with the theory that deer, and some other wild animals, are pests that cause permanent damage to New Zealand forests, and should be eradicated.

Deer populations are low, to very low, in most parts of the country.

However, the unfounded claims, and bias research still roll out on a regular basis, and contradict what is actually happening in our forests.
It is probably not unreasonable to speculate that believers in the "deer cause permanent forest damage" theory have never seen a wild deer, let alone have any experience in the wilderness - at least in regard to getting off the beaten track.

Secondhand stories, and fables that have been passed down through generations have helped develop an "anti-exotic animal phobia", as a visiting zoologist pointed out 53 years ago...

In 1957 a Professor of zoology - Dr. William Graf - visited New Zealand to look at deer populations. His paper is called...

OBSERVATIONS AND COMMENTS ON DEER CONTROL AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT IN NEW ZEALAND

The following excerpts (in blue) are from his findings...

The trip to NZ is part of the overall study of the Hawaiian deer study started on September 1, 1957.

This study was initiated as a result of the conflict of interests and opinion as to the desirability

of introducing deer into territorial islands beyond the present range of distribution of the deer i

n Hawaii.
The argument against the introduction of deer into new areas was based upon a number of points. Basically these were as follows...

1/ The current and widely-held belief that "where vegetation develops in the absence of grazing or browsing animals such vegetation will later be unable to withstand grazing and browsing and will quickly be exterminated by grazing and browsing animals."

2/ That wild animals introduced into areas where no such animals have ever been found will result in uncontrollable populations of these animals with a consequent denudation of the vegetation.

3/ The antagonism produced as a result of the introduced deer into any of the presently deer-free islands

was based to a large extent upon information about NZ and its supposed deer population problems.

Professor Graf goes on to say....

The arguments with regard to New Zealand were presented in such volume and so strongly that they could not be ignored. The evidence with regard to New Zealand, however, was so conflicting from the standpoint of known facts about deer populations in other

parts of the world, that the only solution was to go to New Zealand and examine the situation first hand.

The information used was often based on newspaper stories written by obviously uninformed and prejudiced people. The nature of the articles showed obviously an emotional bias by people not trained in recognising evidence, much less in interpreting it. Quite often the wrong species of animal would be involved. It was difficult to accept statements about the uncontrollable numbers of animals when such statements were directly opposed to all experiences with similar or the same species in other parts of the world. Population behavior and relationship to environment follow basic rules which are not likely to be suspended simply because of change in location.
Because of this and the fact that the NZ information did not agree with the evidence which I found in Hawaii, the decision was made to go to New Zealand.

In summary, Dr. Graf makes the following comments...

It was found that there exists in NZ what amounts to an "anti-exotic animal phobia" to an extent that much of the public as well as many government officials do not and cannot view the situation in an objective perspective.

Administration and management of the wildlife resources is widely divided among various departments and agencies in NZ. The result is often one of duplication of work, conflict of interests, philosophies and policies, with the inevitable inefficiency and waste of time and money.

Throughout my visit in New Zealand I was repeatedly informed that "conditions in New Zealand were different." I must emphatically deny that conditions were different from any basic standpoint related to principles of biology or ecology. The basic problems as i found them are no different in NZ than they are in North America, Hawaii or Europe. Only the details vary. The principles that apply to these problems and the problems are the same.
The oft repeated and widely believed statement about "vegetation which develops

in the absence of grazing and browsing animals-" simply does not stack up under close scrutiny.

First of all, where no browsing or grazing animals have been found before the advent of white man and his introductions, the vegetation has been derived almost entirely if not entirely so, from plant families which evolved on mainland areas in the presence of grazers and browsers.

Secondly, that where no grazers or browsers are present the normal genetic process is for random development of all types of variations, some resistant and some not resistant to animal use, and in all degrees of variation. It would be just as logical to postulate that such vegetation will all be highly resistant to animal use as to say it will not be resistant to animal use.

Thirdly, New Zealand vegetation can hardly be considered as a type which developed in the absence of vegetarian animals. The various birds, extinct and present, are to a large extent browsers. The pigeons, parakeets and parrots are leaf and bud eaters.

The best proof of toughness of New Zealand vegetation is the way it has withstood the most ruthless use -man's fire and livestock. Wherever fire and logging use has been discontinued the forest is coming back - and in the presence of deer, sheep and even goats as I saw myself within a few miles of Wellington.
In addition to this, New Zealand has produced some of the finest hedge plants in use today in the United States. If the oft-quoted statement about vegetation evolution in the absence of grazers and browsers is to be taken at face value, one would have to conclude that these hedge plants must have evolved in the presence of wild hedge shearers.

I am left with no choice except to conclude that the information about numbers of deer and their effect upon the vegetation was in error. Certainly the figures about deer do not agree with any possible reproductive capacity, or even potential, of any known deer species.

It's worth pointing out that when Dr. Graf visited New Zealand in 1957, deer numbers were probably 10 times higher than they are now, but the facts remain the same. In many ways, his conclusions are more relevant now, than they were then.

Whether you agree with Dr. Graf's findings or not, there certainly is a thread of "anti-exotic animal phobia" entrenched in New Zealand educational institutions, departmental bodies and lobby groups.

In regard to the consensus on deer populations in our forests -

A study was conducted by W. Fraser for Landcare Research, (Landcare Research series no. 23) which found that 95% of people surveyed would like to a see deer in the back country.

A ministerial paper was also conducted into peoples views on game animals, and of the 4000 respondents, 80% thought these animals were a resource.

It is mis-information and "anti-exotic animal phobias" that are encouraging the unnecessary aerial poisoning campaigns currently used in New Zealand.

If we can find a middle ground, where our wild animals are managed sensibly, and our objectives remain reasonable, then I think we can eventually all start heading in the same direction, and work toward a cleaner, greener, and happier New Zealand.

Police incident at 1080 protest site

The following segments are from the Greymouth Star newspaper, Wednesday July 7, 2010...

...West Coast police say documentary makers jammed their camera through the window of a police car, breaking it, during a skirmish with anti -1080 protesters at Waitaha yesterday...

Anti -1080 film-makers Clyde and Steve Graf could not be contacted this morning as they were back filming the final throes of the big poison drop in South Westland, but they told TV3 last night their camera was grabbed and the cable broken off in an unprovoked attack by a policeman.

The article goes on to say...

(Inspector John Canning made the following statement)..."As I understand it, the police car pulled up and the camera was jammed through the open window and into the face of an officer."

He said it was the action of one person acting "rudely." "Perhaps that's why a complaint has not been made."

Steve and I were there to film the poison drops, and the protest sites. We were not there to protest, we were quietly going about our business, and were in no way behaving rudely.

In response to the comments that were made in the Greymouth Star, and the Hokitika Guardian, a video clip of the event has been passed to a representative, Mr. Wyn Hibberd, and posted on you-tube, the link is below.

A large truck, laden with 1080 poison, was due to deliver its load to a helicopter loading site. It was between the hours of 7.30pm and 9.30pm on Monday evening, the 5th of July, when the incident unfolded.

Protesters, young and old, had gathered to demonstrate their disapproval of the aerial 1080 poison operation that was to cover 90,000 hectares of the forests that surround their homes.

1080 is a deadly poison that can kill any insect, and any animal that breathes air, including native birds. 1080 (Sodium monofluoroacetate) has no taste, no smell, and no antidote.

It is manufactured in the U.S., in a small factory based in Alabama.

It is dropped from helicopters, contained in attractive food, across New Zealand forests. It is used to target possums and rats, but also kills large numbers of deer, birds, and is also extremely toxic to dogs.

One thing's for sure, the effects of using 1080 poison reach far beyond the forest margins.

The protesters, and the police, are becoming more and more involved with every drop.

1080 is not just poisonous to consume, but it's poisonous in a social context as well.

To view the video clip of the police-protest incident - click here

SPCA need to act on DoC & AHB mass scale, animal cruelty

Over the last month, the west coast of the south island of New Zealand has been subjected to the single largest aerial 1080 poison operation, in New Zealand history. The area covered is over 90,000 hectares.

These drops are happening all across

New Zealand, on a weekly basis

Last Tuesday we were again flown

into the 1080 poison drop zone, through the generosity of helicopter pilot Peter Salter.

We decided to explore the coast side of the road.

The pristine beaches and public highways were given a 150 metre buffer zone. Very generous. Residents and farmers water catchment's are not so fortunate, and as is always the case, poison is dropped directly into all waterways under 3 metres in width, within the drop zones.

We landed on a river bed, and then ventured into the hills.

Soon after arriving, we came across a deer that had been poisoned.

Her head was in the usual position, stretched awkwardly behind

her back, and her legs extended straight out, as is consistent with

the convulsions that increase as death nears.

The bright sunlight was streaming through the canopy,

and illuminated the hind's eye. The massive blood vessel damage was obvious.

Deer are none target animals, and it is illegal to poison deer with 1080 in New Zealand.

Scientists estimate 20,000 deer are poisoned every year with 1080 poison.

How do our bureaucratic authorities get away with it? Easy, they say they are not targeting deer! That simple response, exempts them from prosecution.

A vital point is, it's not just deer that are subjected to this most abhorrent method of animal control - some others included are - dogs, cats, goats, possums, rats, cows, sheep, horses, rabbits, hares, many species of birds, insects, and even people (often considered the least important, and some believe, considered among the rats and possums).

Poisoned animals can take from several hours, to several days to die from 1080 poisoning, and there is NO antidote.

We decided to do an autopsy.

We have been filming and making documentaries on the use of 1080 poison for over 4 years. We are now working on our 3rd, and final, in our trilogy that covers the environmental ecocide that is taking place in New Zealand forests.

Yet, we have never conducted an autopsy on an animal before.

I don't know why!

When we rolled the hind over, it was apparent that blood had been pouring out of her eyes and her mouth.

We have heard reports from farmers that have stated their animals eyes bulge out of their heads after being poisoned with 1080. Seeing is believing.

The second thing we observed was that the deer's bladder was restricted, and contained blood.

We are told by the users of 1080 that poisoned animals do not suffer, and that they simply fall asleep, while dying. Very misleading, indeed!

Steve conducted the autopsy, and he has butchered 1000's of deer, wild and domestic. He was a butcher in the venison works for several years. Our father has also butchered 1000's of wild deer. Never have either seen such internal damage, even by a mislaid bullet!

The hind's lungs were severely damaged.

An animal that has been humanely killed has bright pink, puffy lungs. Not so with a death by 1080 poison!

The lung damage helps to explain the orange froth and blood that is often found oozing from animals nostrils and mouths.

Keep in mind, it takes hours, to days, for these animals to die, and they number in the 1000's, in most aerial poison operations.

The hind's rear end was extremely swollen, bruised, and appeared to be filled with blood.

Steve inspected the area that should normally be clean, and free from hemorrhaging.

Once again, what was revealed was gross bleeding, and obvious, prolonged suffering.

Who are these disturbed people, that spread such distress?

Who are the perpetrators of such horrific animal cruelty?

I'll tell you they're our own Department of Conservation, the Animal Health Board, and the Regional Councils!!!

Why would these people commit such crimes?

Because they choose to be ignorant, and refuse to believe the truth when it stares them in the face. Our field staff simply believe what our authorities tell them - and so they should - but sometimes a little bit of thinking is required, to keep the balance.

A great man once said...

"Unthinking respect for authority, is the greatest enemy of truth!" That was Albert Einstein, and it's as relevant today, as it was when the great man walked the earth.

Parts of this story was published in today's Greymouth Star - minus the photos - the photos were considered too emotive!!!!!!!!

DoC spokesman, Ian Gill stated in that report..."Clyde has simply not found the massive level of carnage that he thought that he would find and so he is playing with people's emotions", he said.
"What he is failing to tell people is that he also knows that gut-shot and wounded deer also die agonising, slow deaths. He has a very selective concern."

Are you serious, Mr. Gill? As was stated, we have never seen such internal damage, even on an accidental, "gut-shot" animal, ever!

We have many years of experience in the venison industry, unlike most employees of DoC, and to try to dismiss this repulsive act, under the guise of emotions, just confirms DoC staff's callous inDoCtrination.

What these animals are put through has nothing to do with emotive! This is fact. This is happening. This is a serious crime, that must end!

There is no disputing that 1080 is too inhumane to be used in this way.

Our brave people in SPCA must add their weight to help stop the perpetrators - that are beyond moral judgement, and ethical behavior.

SPCA, It is time to risk sacrificing your jobs, your relationships with these authorities, and stand up for what you are meant to represent - the humane welfare of animals, domestic or wild!!!

Please keep your eye on the US bill to have 1080 manufacture, import and export, banned.

Comments from a scientist

Below is a recent letter from a scientist that has spent allot of time researching the science behind the use of 1080 in New Zealand. He is writing in response to a request about his and his wife's research...

3rd July, 2010

...In general, DoC/AHB has done little of what even they would call “research” establishing the efficacy and ecosystem safety of dropping food laced with a poison universally toxic to aerobic organisms into forest ecosystems, and what has been done is most often methodologically flawed. Little of it would probably be unpublishable except in NZ.

The focus of our investigation was on the evidence regarding the effect of aerial 1080 on native ecosystems. We have only looked superficially at the evidence regarding AHB’s claim that aerial-1080 is essential to bovine TB control, because that assertion is relatively easily dispelled (in our minds) without direct reference to the “research”, despite its dubiousness.

The evidence showing that possums are an important vector in the transmission of bovine TB is circumstantial. No direct experiments have shown transmission and the decline in infection rates in cattle have been coincident with the implementation of herd testing and control measures. Nonetheless, we have generally avoided taking on those issues because there are clear, less risky, cheaper, and equally effective means of controlling possum populations, especially in the 7 km pasture margins where it may to be important for the control of bovine TB in live stock.

Our Appraisal document is now out of date and critical new evidence and analysis has been done that greatly strengthens the case against aerial-1080. However, it does contain a section at the beginning that explains in lay terms the elements of good experimental design in complex systems.

Finally, I would warn that the principles of statistical inference and their relationship to the structure of experimental design are deep and subtle, there only being a few people in the world who truly understand them. They can be reduced to a few simple rules to be followed, but the real connection between randomization and replication in experimental design and the statistical tests is one of the greatest discoveries of the 20th Century and probably goes beyond what is achievable in a few bullet points. The reason why this is important is that it means to some degree the quality of research becomes an appeal to the authority of “experts”, which almost anyone can claim to be. (Name hidden by blogger)(******** for example is Doc’s standard reference and his is riddled with statistical and methodological errors.) Thus, pursuing the quality of research argument tends to descend into “we do good research” “no you don’t” arguments. (Incidentally, these rules are almost entirely ignored or misinterpreted in the DoC/AHB experiments.)

Dr. Quinn Whiting-Okeefe

Bill to ban the manufacture and export of 1080 introduced to U.S. Congress

Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Congressman John Campbell (R-CA) introduced the Compound 1080 and Sodium Cyanide Elimination Act (H.R.5643) before the U.S. Congess, yesterday (NZ time).
The Bill - To amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to prohibit the use, production, sale, importation, or exportation of the poison sodium fluoroacetate (known as ‘‘Compound 1080’’) and to prohibit the use of sodium cyanide for predator control.
"We are extremely excited about our chances of finally passing this bill to ban these two deadly agents that indiscriminately harm and kill wildlife, pets and people." Said Brooks Fahy, of Predator Defense, who has been working on this issue for several years.
"In the past few years we have garnered significant Congressional support for this legislation and have built a coalition with other environmental organisations that have backed us with their expertise and seasoned political strategists." said Fahy.

This is great News, and sends a clear message to our government ministers and authorities, that here in New Zealand we should be considering the same. For too long this country has been married to the indiscriminate, aerial use of 1080, which puts the welfare of our wildlife and people at great risk. However, Animal Control Products, a New Zealand state owned enterprise based in Wanganui, has a stock pile of 1080 which is estimated will last for several more years, should the U.S. bill be successful.

None the less, this is certainly a step in the right direction, and may open some doors to encourage more critical thinking when it comes to the careless use of 1080, like we see in New Zealand.

Maori Party MP Rahui Katene intends to draft a member's bill to ban the use of 1080 poison.

This is another great move, and indicates clear thinking from The Maori Party.

To view press release - Click Here

To see the US bill, click on this link - Bill to ban 1080

Taupo mayor declares war - and a visit to the drop zone

Taupo mayor Rick Cooper has declared war on the 1080 industry.
Click here THE MAYOR WHO DECLARED WAR to read the Sunday Star Times full, 2 page story in yesterday's paper.

10 days ago, 60,000 hectares of forestry, bordering lake Taupo, were aerially applied with compound 1080 poison.

Steve, myself and Taupo mayor Rick Cooper, yesterday visited one of the forests.
The question the Mayor was asking was - Why was the use of aircraft required to indiscriminately spread the deadly toxin across the forests? - Their water runoff flows into Lake Taupo! The terrain is flat, to rolling, and is comprehensively dissected with
roads and tracks. Mr Cooper believes the forestry should have been managed by using professional ground based trappers, hunters, and the use of bait stations.
It was only about 3 years ago that the forestry was aerially poisoned.

During the 6 hours we spent in the block, we found only 1 dead possum.

It is common for us to find more non-target species than target (possums and rats), in areas poisoned with 1080.

Time was spent both driving the roads, and searching in the pine blocks.

Two months ago, when visiting the block, several deer were seen, and the sign of deer throughout the area, was common.

However, after comprehensively searching and driving the block yesterday, not a single fresh sign of deer was seen, not even foot prints.

This suggests the Sika deer living in the area have been poisoned.

5 dead rabbits were found. They had been scavenged, probably by hawks or falcon, given that the drop is meant to have killed any rats. No dead rats were found.

Although the drop took place 10 days earlier, the baits were in good order, and were still laying, clearly visible and intact, in the forest, and on the roads and tracks.

Apart from the 1 dead possum, we also found 5 rabbits - a favourite food source for hawks and falcons - which had been scavenged. 1080 causes secondary poisoning in feeders up the food chain. To allow our native bird life to be lethally, and sub-lethally poisoned, without a second thought for their welfare, is not only

grossly ignorant, but also a breach of the Animal Welfare, and Wildlife acts!

However, ignorance is a key defence for the users and supporters of 1080.

Aside from the target species, we also found 7 dead birds.

6 were finches. These are the most common birds in the forestry block.
Although finches are introduced passerines, they have similar feeding habits to some of our native and endemic passerines, and these deaths only reinforce scientific studies that have shown large numbers of native birds are poisoned in aerial operations.

1 endemic Kereru (Wood Pigeon) was also found, and It had been partly scavenged. It is common for birds, but not possums (apart from areas where kea, weka or pukeko are present), to be scavenged after they have been killed by 1080. Sometimes only a pile of feathers is all that authenticates their pre-poison existence.

In the past, Kiwi have been found dead after poisoning operations, but their deaths are often dismissed by DoC as caused by predation (rather than the possibility that they have been predated on while dying, or scavenged when killed by poisoning), so are, conveniently, not tested.

The users of 1080 - DoC, AHB, and regional councils - continue to deliberately mislead the public over their use of this poison. These bureaucracies habitually inform the public that aerial drops only take place in difficult terrain, and across inaccessible areas.

We have travelled the country, visiting many drop zones, and in most cases, the drop areas can be managed with responsible, targeted, ground control - with ease.

We congratulate Taupo mayor Rick Cooper for his stance on the irresponsible use of aerially applied 1080 poison in the Taupo district, and raising the issue of what drives this industry.

By advocating the abolition of this anti-Kiwi method of animal control - he is a true patriot!