Photo: Department of ConservationWhile a leading conservation authority is backing the Department of Conservation’s controversial tahr-culling operations, disdain is being shown to helicopter firms assisting the cull. The NZ Tahr Foundation was quick to respond, saying that Mr Ellison’s comments implying tahr hunting was a niche tourism industry were highly inaccurate. "This needs to be done as part of a thorough review of the out-of-date 1993 Himalayan tahr control plan so we can put this almost-annual conflict behind us." Stuff reported this week that Doc operations director Ben Reddiex confirmed helicopter pilots assisting in the cull had received threats. The post said there was a need for continued control, "but we have never supported extermination of either deer or tahr.

Source: Otago Daily Times July 22, 2020 16:30 UTC