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CavySanctuary
A place to talk about your pets and chat and game's.
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antipodi
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| Thu Aug 31, 2006 11:58 pm Police Probe Seal Kill in Australia |
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For a long time an age old battle has been going on ..some fishermen have wrongly claimed that the seals of the Australian coast have outfished the local fish....this is incorrect and based on ignorance of how the ecolog works if anthing it may be a case of TOO many fishing liscences as the real culprit...
Quote: Police probe seal slaughter
Jane Holroyd
August 31, 2006 - 2:44PM
Police are investigating the shooting of more than 40 rare and protected Australian fur seals on an island in a Victorian national park last night.
The seals were shot on Kanowna Island, about 13 kilometres south-west of Norman Bay at the entrance to Tidal River, which is in Wilsons Promontory National Park at the southernmost point of Victoria.
Police last night arrested two men on a boat based in San Remo and took them to Wonthaggi Police Station for questioning after searching the boat.
The men have been released while investigations continue.
Police and wildlife officers from the Department of Sustainability and Environment were today examining the site of the shooting.
The killing of more than 40 of the animals, which are the world's fourth rarest seal species, has shocked animal lovers and conservationists.
Victoria's Environment Minister John Thwaite described the killings as an unimaginable act.
Mr Thwaites said moves were underway to track down those responsible.
"I just cannot believe that anyone would commit an act like this," Mr Thwaites told reporters.
"The Australian fur seal is a rare seal.
"It's just quite unimaginable that someone would do this sort of act."
Three students from Deakin University were on the island studying the seals when they witnessed the animals being shot shortly after 5pm.
Senior Constable David Fitzgerald from Victoria Police said the students were not injured.
"The students managed to contact police on their mobiles or on a radio," he told theage.com.au.
Kanowna Island is a granite island that is home to as many as 10,000 Australian and New Zealand fur seals during breeding season, which is from November to January.
The island, one of four breeding colonies for the seals in Victoria, lies within the Wilsons Promontory Marine park, and all animals are protected under the Wildlife Act.
Ryan Duffy, a ranger from Tidal River, said vessels were prohibited from being within 50 metres of the island at this time of year.
The seals have been killed by fishermen in the past because they are seen as competition for fish. |
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jsqueek
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| Wed Sep 06, 2006 12:31 pm |
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my hubby heard this onthe radio.
i hope they lock them men up :evil:
those poor babies :cry:
why animals still trust man i dont know ! |
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antipodi
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| Thu Sep 07, 2006 12:08 am |
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| The caught the guyz and they are fishermen sadly ...I will keep yah informed as to the court case... |
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jsqueek
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| Thu Sep 07, 2006 4:50 am |
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| yes please do |
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