The Graf Boys

On October 3rd, 2010, 25,000 hectares of the Waitutu Forest, in the Fiordland National Park, was aerially poisoned with 1080.The following comment was posted by a DoC employee on Facebook on June 28, 2011


The following information is from a study undertaken during the 2010 Waitutu 1080 operation. The report is in the process of peer review and publishing. Note that bad weather killed 18 ruru (Morepork) before the operation and the one that died after the operation was found cached underground by a predator and it tested clear of 1080.

Of the 31 radio-tagged ruru known to be alive at the beginning of August, transmitters belonging to 18 of these birds were discovered in mortality mode during an aerial status check immediately prior (3 Oct 2010) to the distribution of toxic baits (4 Oct 2010). Ground-based checks of these birds commencing 4 October confirmed that all of these birds were dead and had been for some days (10 days). Of the remaining 13 radio-tagged ruru, two transmitters appeared to have failed (intermittent or no detectable signal) leaving 11 radio-tagged ruru known to be alive or detectable within the operational area when 1080 baits were distributed. One of these 11 birds died within three days of toxic bait application. This bird was found cached underground but recovered intact (8 Oct 2010) and subsequently autopsied (Massey School of Veterinary Science) and tested for 1080 residues (CENTOX). No traces of 1080 were found.

"For 18 of 31 radio-tagged, native owls (Ruru - Maori) to die just prior to an aerial 1080 poison operation, is very disturbing. The aerial drop was unnecessary in the first place, as the majority of the drop zone is not difficult terrain, and could have been managed on foot." said Clyde Graf.

Ross Campbell, Morepork expert, and owner of the famed OWLCATRAZ tourist park stated yesterday, that Ruru are very resilient in winter weather, and when he was informed that 18 radio-tagged birds reportedly died in bad weather recently, he said he'd be surprised if even one had.

Mr Campbell went on to say that the Ruru lives up to 80 years, and that they're bad breeders and poor parents. Mr Campbell stated that when aerial 1080 operations were conducted in the Tararua Ranges he observed the Ruru population decrease by two thirds. He also pointed out that if Ruru are dying in large numbers, it could take a thousand years for the population to recover.

"If the Department of Conservation managed to find 31 Ruru to tag, prior to this operation, the population was probably in good order, despite the weather conditions over the last 1000 years!" said Clyde Graf.

"1080 poison has no antidote, and causes secondary poisoning. Ruru have been found dead with 1080 residues in their carcasses before. The birds don't eat the baits directly, but target poisoned mice, small rats, insects, and even joey possums that leave the pouch after their mother eats the bait. The joeys receive the poison through their mother's milk, and can then poison the birds.. Morepork are at high risk of poisoning in aerial operations."

Due to the unusual nature of this event, and the fact we drop so much poison across our forests every year, an Official Information Act request has been submitted to the district office that managed this operation, in order to find out more details. Any further information about this incident will be posted onwww.thegrafboys.blogspot.com.

With large budgets, and the power that comes with those budgets, it's important that transparency is maintained within the public service, and that bureaucrats can be questioned and remain accountable to the tax-payers that fund them," said Clyde Graf. The Act requires that a response is delivered within 20 days.

What is the Official Information Act, and why is it important?

The Official Information Act was established in 1982.
The purpose of the law is to: increase the availability of official information to promote more effective public participation in the making and administration of laws and policies.

ENDS

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