Hello Stuart. This small group of feral goats are NOT destroying the environment they have lived in for the last 200yrs or more. They pose no threat to any native fauna or flora. I am aware that this is not the case in some places in NZ but you appear to be wanting to tar every species with the same brush here. Arapawa Island is very large as you presumably know and this small group (150 - 200 at the most)occupy a very small area of it which is thick bush. Many of us are hoping that some can be relocated to other places to supplement breeding stock. A recent census totalled only 360 in the world (NZ /USA/ UK). But the remainder having survived there for over 200 yrs surely have the right to remain. The original stock would have provided meat, milk and skins. The Old English goat was a very hardy and productive breed which is sadly now extinct in the UK. We cannot afford to lose unique genetics like these especially when so many rare species are being slaughtered around the world through ignorance and arrogance. I would also add that the methods of culling employed by DOC are brutal and inhumane. To say nothing of the 1080 poison they still drop in spite of the suffering it causes. I think many visitors to NZ would be appalled if they knew more about these things and would possibly choose to go elsewhere.
Cheers, Christine. --- In [email protected], Stuart Crawford <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > So am I to assume that you would prefer to leave these animals to continue > to destroy the environment they live in which does lead to the extinction of > native flora and fauna? > > Goats of all varieties have done immeasurable destruction to the ecosystems > of New Zealand. > > I could appreciate an appeal to capture some of these goats to return to > their original habitat, but to even think about allowing them to stay in > there present habitat is to actively promote the continuing destruction and > extinction of whole ecosystems. > > My guess is that Captain Cook (though it is equally likely that it was > whalers who introduced them) left the goats as a future food source. I doubt > very much that the consequences where known at the time, but they are very > much known now. > > In my lifetime I have witnessed the continued destruction of the New Zealand > habitat through introduced species and consider it criminal to try and > protect those species here. > > In New Zealand we are resorting to the use of islands to try and save > numerous species of native bird and plant life from extinction, which has > been brought about by introduced species. > > Stuart Crawford, > New Zealand. > > > 2. Please Help Stop The Shooting Of Arapawa Goats (Off topic) > > Posted by: "Christine Ball" [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > goatgenetics > > Date: Tue Jan 1, 2008 5:41 am ((PST)) > > > > Apologies for the off topic post but hope a few of you will help > > attempt to stop DOC (NZ) shooting these direct descendants of our Old > > English goats (now extinct). Carried to Arapawas Island by Captain > > Cook over 200 yrs ago (so there IS a boat connection!) > > > > This petition was set up shortly after midnight. If you find the > > proposed culling of the feral goats on Arapawa Island objectionable > > please sign:- > > > > http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/arapawa-goats > > > > Happy New Year. > > Christine (Industry Narrowboats). > > > > > > > > > > Messages in this topic (1) >
