RSPCA Victoria
Media Release
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Victoria)
ACN 131 965 761
ABN 56 749 449 191
RSPCA Victoria appalled at 2010 duck shooting season
RSPCA Victoria is outraged that the Victorian State Government has announced that a
recreational duck shooting season will go ahead in 2010.
RSPCA Victoria President, Dr Hugh Wirth said, “The State Government’s decision to go
ahead with a duck shooting season is irresponsible and displays a blatant disregard for
the welfare of Australian Wildlife. It is no secret that thousands of ducks are wounded
horrifically each and every season and die a slow and painful death. 87% of the
community supports a ban, but once again the community’s voice has fallen on deaf
ears.
“State governments in Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland have
declared a ban on the recreational shooting of native water birds.
“Surely, it is time our own state government listened to the majority and put a
permanent end to this so-called sport. The impact of long term low rainfall over the
past years has severely reduced the size of many of the State’s wetlands. This makes it
all the more important to ban duck shooting. To not only allow a season to go ahead,
but to increase bag numbers, is negligent.
“In a community which now demands much higher levels of accountability, the
continuation of this recreational sport certainly poses questions regarding the moral,
ethical and welfare standards set by our State government”, Dr Wirth said.
“It is mystifying that the State Government hasn’t taken this issue of cruelty seriously
and banned it once and for all,” Dr Wirth said.
RSPCA Victoria calls on Victorians to demand a total ban on this ‘sport’. People can
support the RSPCA by contacting the Acting Minister for Environment, The Hon. Tim
Holding and voice your opposition to duck hunting.
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ENDS -
For more information or interview requests, please contact:
Tim Pilgrim
Media Coordinator
RSPCA Victoria
P: 03 9224 2237
tpilgrim@rspcavic.org.au
NEWS 
