| Recreational hunting is usually sought to be justified in the name of ‘tradition’. But such purported recreation or tradition should be tested with two questions. Is it free of harm to the animal? Is it necessary? In the case of pratices such as the indigenous hunting of dugongs and turtles in Queensland; mutton birding in Tasmania; duckshooting in Victoria and South Australia; pig dogging or say the hunting of the deer; the answer to each question is plainly ‘no’. Such practices are often pointless and so often accompanied by a confronting barbarism.In a civilised society such practices in the name of recreation and usually also tradition should be prohibited with a serious penalty for contravention. How can it be otherwise where say turtles have their flippers cut off, and are then turned on their backs to die a lingering death in the hot North Queensland sun over several days? |
Attachments:
- Poachers kill 80 elephants with cyanide in Zimbabwe, ABC News, 25 September 2013.
- Hong Kong Drops Shark Fin From Official Menus, The New York Times, 13 September 2013.
- Bob Irwin and Colin RIddell launch Animal Coalition with Sea Shepherd, Compilation of media coverage, 13 May 2013.
- ‘Hunter Warned of Bird Massacre’ by Melissa Fyfe, The Age, Environment, 13 May 2013.
- In the name of culture: dugong hunting is simply cruel, The Conversation by Dominique Thiriet and Rebecca Smith, 8 April 2013.
- Shark finning YouTube clip, Produced by ACAP and Wild Aid, 15 June 2006.
- Pig dogging faces question of barbarity or hobby?, Story from ABC’s 7.30 Report, 17 July 2012.
- BAWP Submission on Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2012, BAWP submission to Vic DPI on proposed Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2012, 20 August 2012.
- Unhappy Hunting Grounds, Article in the Australian, 13 March 2012.