Wildlife Tasmania

Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania Inc.

P: 0408 970 359

E: info@aact.org.au

www.aact.org.au

Wildlife Tasmania

P: 0417 017 105

E: wildlifetasmania@gmail.com

www.wildlifetasmania.com

Tasmanian Conservation Trust

P: 6234 3552

E: tct6@bigpond.com

www.tct.org.au

QUAIL CRUELTY HEADS SOUTH

Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania (AACT) is joined by the Tasmanian Conservation Trust (TCT) and Wildlife Tasmania in condemning the Tasmanian Government for still allowing recreational shooting of Brown Quail. The annual four week open season is due to begin tomorrow Saturday 30 April amid concerns about the cruelty of quail shooting and with added concerns that the season has been extended into southern Tasmania.

"The Tasmanian Government is endorsing broad scale slaughtering of native wildlife, while enlisting the service of shooters to help make decisions about the killing season." said Chris Simcox, spokesperson for AACT, "As a society we should fight against this rampant destruction of wild creatures. AACT are strongly opposed to any form of killing, particularly when it is purely for fun."

Other States have brought an end to quail shooting, including Western Australia and Queensland. AACT, TCT and Wildlife Tasmania urge the Government of Tasmania to follow suit.

"The department admits to only surveying quail numbers in the Bass Strait islands, and yet it is allowing the season to be extended to include the south of the State, with no real knowledge of species density and distribution in that region." said Peter McGlone, spokesperson for TCT, "They plan to use shooters to do that survey work for them by expecting detailed information to be supplied to them in shooter returns at the end of the season. They claim that this will enable them to 'sustainably manage quail hunting'."

"We hope that the new state government can act swiftly to oppose this cruel so-called sport and ban the recreational shooting of all wildlife in Tasmania." said Peter Power spokesperson for Wildlife Tasmania. "Shooting any living being with a shotgun is a guarantee of causing injury and suffering. Shotguns disperse a spray of steel pellets that invariably wound, and rarely kill outright. Wildlife Tasmania is very concerned for the welfare of the injured birds that will be left to die a slow and painful death."

"By allowing an open season on Brown Quail, the Tasmanian Government is condoning the killing of small defenceless native animals for enjoyment." said Mr Simcox, "This is abhorrent and totally unacceptable by the standards of our modern society. Tasmania should become more progressive and outlaw all cruel killing practices. We demand an end to quail killing in Tasmania."

For more information contact:

Chris Simcox, Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania, Ph: 0408 970 359

Peter McGlone, Tasmanian Conservation Trust, Ph: 0406 380 545

Peter Power, Wildlife Tasmania, Ph: 0417 017 105