Graf’s respond to DoC request for apology

EDITOR'S NOTE: For more information on this issue see DoC release: 1080 activists should apologise.

On Thursday the 10th of December, The Department of Conservation’s 1080 advocate, Ian Gill stated - “1080 activists should apologise”!
Co-producer of the documentary Poisoning Paradise, Clyde Graf, responds -

Mr. Gill states that he uses his DIY bird sound recorder to monitor bird presence after 1080 drops. This is a good idea, and is precisely what is needed to hear bird song, after a 1080 drop.

But a microphone is capable of picking up birdcalls from up to several kilometres away. A microphone is far more sensitive than the human ear – but is not an accurate way of measuring bird numbers.

We have recorded sound from one end of the country to the other, and the area’s where 1080 has never been used is profoundly better.

But I think the public are tiring of – he said this, they said that – type ramblings. It is time the 1080 pushers change their ways, and become honest, and at least credible.

For too long the DoC have managed to dupe the public into accepting their beliefs, by simply stamping their name, without the need to provide the hard evidence.

That time is coming to an end. The public are starting to demand that DoC present the proof - but of course, there is none.

There is not a single, credible scientific study that demonstrates a net population benefit to any native species through the use of aerial 1080 poison. Not one! The evidence suggests irreversible damage is probably being done.

Mr Gill suggests, “The Grafs should apologise”.

Apologise for what? We didn’t drop the tons of poisonous food into the snow at St. Arnaud, where hungry native birds were living.

Over an area of about 10 hectares we found - 1 rat, no possums, and 9 birds - 7 of them natives.

We found no dead birds outside the drop zone, only where the poison was present were dead birds found. This drop took place to within 200 metres of the road leading to the Rainbow Sky field. It was easily accessible, not steep. It was easy and open country to navigate. It should never have been aerially dropped in the first place.

It is the Department of Conservation that should apologise, and in my opinion, start compensating for the havoc they have perpetuated.

They should start by apologising for the 1000’s of pets they have killed.
They should apologise for the suffering they have inflicted upon 1000’s of half poisoned animals, left wandering farms and forests in tormented states. They should apologise for the un-known quantities of native birds they have killed. They should apologise for breaching human rights, for violating public trust, for contaminating the food chain of wildlife, and people, and for using low quality science to prop up an industry that is a contradiction to the image we promote.

On the contrary Mr. Gill, it is the Department of Conservation that needs to apologise, and today is a good time to start.

ends

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