Respect and appreciation out-shoots killing culture
Royal Spoonbill with Grey Teal, images courtesy of Regional Victorians Opposed to Duck Shooting. Share this page Respect and appreciation out-shoots killing culture Did you know? Birdwatching, popular with individuals and families, is a huge and growing recreational activity, with economic benefits over $41 billion in the United States alone, according to recent research. Data on economic and mental health benefits of tourism and birdwatching was gathered by Regional Victorians Opposed to Duck Shooting https://www.regionalvictoriansotds.com/post-1/birds-to-give-wings-to-rural-economiesThis work evolved to counter the current Victorian government practice of every year opening wetlands to bird/duck killers: an invasion that hurts more than the avian population. Regional Victorians Opposed to Duck Shooting spokesperson Kerrie Allen has told media audiences in Victoria: “The number of domestic birdwatching tourists presents a huge opportunity to areas around regional Victoria endowed with stunning wetlands and native waterbirds, many unique to our country. Sadly, many such areas, are financially stressed. Photo: https://www.regionalvictoriansotds.com/the-beauty-gallery “The fact they are duck shooting areas for a handful of recreational native bird shooters hasn’t helped. “Studies show most tourists will choose to go somewhere else, (where there is no shooting). The tourism data is more strong evidence that change is in regional Victoria’s best interests. Duck shooting needs to cease, so birdwatching along with our native waterbirds and the rural towns blessed with them, can flourish.” “More overnight tourists went birdwatching than visited the reef… domestic tourism alone was worth $80 billion to Australia in the year ending December 2019. Their research showed that the total number of domestic birdwatching tourists was 866,000 in the year ending December 2019. More overnight tourists went birdwatching than visited the reef, 44% more… Excluding international tourist data, domestic tourism alone was worth $80 billion to Australia year ending December 2019. The unique Australian native animals in general attract a high level of tourist interest, yet domestically many are persecuted and commercially trafficked. Kangaroos still suffer from a huge commercial trade in skins and meat, supported by all governments. They are also killed, as they have been since colonisation, in removal programs to suit commercial interests. In the national capital, kangaroos are today shot in high numbers in a controversial, hard-to-fathom annual government ‘cull’. Yet, before the killing started they were documented to be major tourist attractions for Canberra and the ACT, being easily visible in city reserves, co-existing nicely with most human neighbours. People with shotguns menace wetlands From March to June every year more than half of Victoria’s public wetlands estate, some 280,000 hectares, is open to individuals carrying shotguns aiming to harm native birds, and effectively locking out the vast majority of Australian citizens. (South Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania continue with similar bird hunting seasons). Victorian community members say there is no government public safety strategy attached. They report that a 2021 survey of 800 regional people found more than half felt unsafe with bird shooters around. Country businesses are impacted. For example properties experience stressed livestock – ‘freaked out’ horses are mentioned. The region experiences loss of tourism income as people leave to avoid walking or camping near the shooters. The local indigenous community is opposed, saying that from their view of humans and other species, “shooting them you are shooting one of our people”. Check out the website maintained by Kerrie and her wildlife advocate colleagues. It has great photos and much more information: https://www.regionalvictoriansotds.com/
