Animal welfare group hits out at plan to continue use of poisons
FOR many years, 1080 (or sodium fluroacetate) has been the top method of control for farmers and government bodies in the fight against feral animals.
Now the RSPCA is attacking the findings of a report issued last week by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicine Authority (APVMA) on the use of the poison.
The organisation said it was disappointed that 1080 would continue to be used on thousands of animals after a review into its use was unable to consider animal welfare, especially its effect on both target and non-target animals.
However Landcare, wildlife and government groups who use, and control the use of, the poison have come out in support of it.
They say it is still the most effective and cost-efficient way to control foxes and rabbits in the South West.
Damian Collopy, the invasive species manager for the Department of Agriculture and Food, said he did not support the RSPCA claim that 1080 was cruel and inhumane, based on scientific research undertaken by a number of researchers.
“It is generally accepted that 1080 is one of the most humane control methods currently available for controlling feral animals,” Mr Collopy said.
“Animal welfare is always considered when looking at control options for feral animals.
“Feral animals cost the economy $700 million a year and 1080 baits are the only effective way to control feral animals over large areas.”
RSPCA chief scientist, Dr Bidda Jones said the APVMA report fell short of their real concern – the poison’s cruelty.
“The RSPCA’s own research has indicated that 1080 is not humane, with poisoned animals experiencing a range of painful and distressing symptoms and a slow death,” Dr Jones said.
“The problem with the APVMA registration and review process is that it does not allow these concerns about animal welfare to be considered, despite the APVMA report itself stating that there was strong public concern about the humaneness of 1080.”
Cheryl Hamence, a natural resource management officer from the Blackwood Valley Landcare office in Bridgetown, said 1080 was widely used by local farmers.
Ms Hamence said, providing users were trained and guidelines were followed, 1080 was still the most efficient and cost-effective control method.
Part of the training farmers undergo is determining whether 1080 is the most effective control method for them and they are also assessed by the Department of Agriculture and Food.
Farmers using 1080 must be well away from town, they must display warning signs on their property, warn neighbours about baiting and remove any uneaten baits after a set time period.
“There’s not going to be thousands of baits left out there ready for the unwary dog,” Ms Hamence said.
Ms Hamence said native animals are tolerant to 1080 because it is derived from a substance in native plants which are found throughout the South West.
Mr Collopy said most incidents of accidental baiting involved domestic animals, usually when the owner has failed to see the warning signs.
There are relatively few cases incidences where native animals are poisoned, provided that baiting is done correctly.
Rob Brazell, from the Department of Environment and Conservation’s Western Shield program, said a variety of poisons had been used for killing foxes and rabbits besides 1080.
Phostoxin was designed for fumigating grain silos but is sometimes used on rabbits, however the burrows need to be located and sealed in order to use it.
Cyanide and strychnine were also used but were discontinued some time ago.
Mr Brezell said researchers found that cyanide was toxic to everything (not just its target) and Strychnine could accumulate in the body.
Strychnine was a particular problem for agriculture protection staff; several had died many years after using it - it was found the poison entered their body after it contaminated the papers they used for rolling their cigarettes because they had failed to wash their hands after handling the poison.
THE RSPCA has announced that it will support a project funded by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to develop a model for assessing the humaneness of pest control techniques.
Ms Hamence said people might be interested to know that New Zealand used 20 times Australia’s quantity of 1080 per year.
They use four tonnes of the poison a year while Australia uses just 200 kilograms.