Forest and Bird slams 'irresponsible' anti-1080 movement

  • 13/10/2018

Environmentalists aren't shocked dead native birds left on Parliament's steps had no trace of 1080 in their systems.

Protesters dumped two kereru, two weka and one red-billed gull in September, claiming they had been poisoned by 1080.

Initial analysis suggested they had actually been killed by blunt force trauma, and a toxicology report by Landcare Research confirmed as such.

Harming or even possessing a dead native bird is against the law, punishable with a fine of up to $100,000 or a year in prison.

Kevin Hague from Forest and Bird says it was a terrible act.

"I think most of us who know the research assumed that it was yet another outlandish and deceptive stunt on behalf of this irresponsible movement."

The Department of Conservation says it is still investigating how the birds died. A protester told The AM Show in September some of the birds had been struck by cars, saying the weka, one kereru and a quail were roadkill.

Mr Hague, formerly a Green MP, says much of what anti-1080 protesters claims is "completely and utterly false" - and though some native birds are killed by 1080, it's rare.

"There are clearly some instances of individual kea, in particular in areas where they're used to novel food, being killed - but really, that's about it."

Further tests are underway to determine the real cause of death.

Newshub.