Feral Animal Cull to Begin this Week

[Maggie Funkhouser]

According to ABC News, the Queensland Murray Darling Committee (a
natural resource management organization for Queensland, Australia)
says a two-year project to reduce feral animal numbers in the
Toowoomba region (southern part of the state) moves to the culling
phase this week.

The committee is monitoring six sites for feral PIGS, CATS, and FOXES.
The six areas are Kingdon, Nindigully, Southwood National Park, Middle
Creek, Talwood, and Crowders Creek. Three are control sites, while
shooting, baiting, and trapping will be carried out in the other three
areas.

The committee's Darren Marshall says it is looking to see what impact
the culling has on animal numbers. He says pig density is very low at
the moment because of the drought, but the project will tell them how
quickly the numbers come back after the culling. "It's a really good
time for us to target them because while the numbers are so low we can
have a real impact if we knock them back now."

Alley Cat Rescue is urging our members to write letters of concern to
Australia’s government officials, telling them to stop this inhumane
slaughter of innocent animals and to persuade them to use more non-
lethal methods of population control, such as trapping and sterilizing
the animals or experimenting with contraceptives.

Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd
ph: +61 (0)2 6277 7700; fax: +61 (0)2 6273 4100
Queensland: ph: +61 (0)7 3899 4031; fax: +61 (0)7 3899 5755
website: www.pm.gov.au/contact/index.cfm

Minister for the Environment, Peter Garrett
ph: +61 (0)2 6277 7640; fax: +61 (0)2 6273 6101
website: www.aph.gov.au/house/members/memfeedback.asp?id=HV4

You may also send a letter to Australia’s Ambassador.

Embassy of Australia
Ambassador Dennis Richardson
1601 Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036
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cat news and information.

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