DPIPWE confirms that three-year-olds are obtaining licences to kill shearwaters (muttonbirds)

The Tasmanian Conservation Trust today released shocking information provided by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment confirming that in 2014, recreational licences to take short-tailed shearwaters (muttonbirds) were issued to three people born in 2011 or after, i.e. they were maximum of three years old.

Already in 2015 there have been three licences issued to people born in the years 2001-2010 but the DPIPWE has not confirmed the actual age of these children – they may be as young as five years but no older than 14 years. Licences for the 2015 season are still being sold, so we can expect the number to increase to about last year’s level.

TCT Director Peter McGlone said “I am shocked and disppointed that those who are charged with managing our wildlife would grant licences to toddlers to enable them to kill native birds.

“This shameful fact makes Tasmania a national embarrassment.

“I can only think of two explanations for DPIPWE’s bizarre decision to issue licences to toddlers, either they are ignoring their responsibility to ensure that licence holders are capable of humanely dispatching (killing) the birds, or they are turning a blind-eye to adults falsely obtaining licences for their young relatives to enable them to take more shearwaters than is legal.

The DPIPWE letter confirms that licences have been refused for failing to provide a date of birth or if the applicant has been convicted of a wildlife offence in the previous five years, but it appears that they do not refuse licences on the basis of age.

“The TCT calls on the Minister for the Environment Matthew Groom to acknowledge that it is inappropriate for young children to obtain licences for killing native birds and to commit immediately to legislating to stop this from happening.”

Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania (AACT) joined the TCT in expressing its shock at the news that toddlers are being licensed to kill native bird species.

Chris Simcox, Coordinator for AACT said: “We are absolutely stunned that licences are being issued to pre-school children. At this age we should be giving children a strong message about having respect for all life. Instead this teaches young children that it is acceptable to kill baby birds. A three-year-old will not differentiate between a shearwater chick and a baby bird of another species.

“It is unthinkable to allow a child of three to kill a defenceless shearwater chick. The potential for suffering by the shearwater chick is massively increased because a child of that age will not fully understand what they are doing. And the potential for emotional torment for the child goes beyond imagining.”

**The letter from DPIPWE was in response to a TCT letter dated 11 February 2015
Peter McGlone Director Tasmanian Conservation Trust, Chris Simcox Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania