Discussion » Questions » Animals (Wild) » Is Australia's plan to use dingoes (and then kill them) to curb the goat population good or cruel?

Is Australia's plan to use dingoes (and then kill them) to curb the goat population good or cruel?

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-23/dingoes-set-to-become-pelorus-island-environmental-saviour/7652424 Apparently there is an island overpopulated by goats, so they plan to control it by releasing dingoes into the area. The dingoes all have capsules inside them that will release poison into their systems and kill them in two years, provided they aren't shot first, as their reward for a job well done.

Posted - July 25, 2016

Responses


  • 85

    Cruel. I don't understand the need to shoot or poison the dingoes. They've been spayed and neutered so it's not like they can reproduce and take over the island.

    It might take longer if they use fewer dingoes, but it would still be effective and I would assume they would die of natural causes before the goat population got too small (and they wouldn't have anything to eat anymore).

    I'm very curious about how quick this poison is supposed to work. Are they going to die a slow agonizing death or what? :/

      July 27, 2016 12:52 AM MDT
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  • List of messed up aspects of Australia...

    "messed up" being a too kind euphemism for atrocities.

    Cruelty to greyhounds in racing.

    Cruelty in the shooting and poisoning of feral animals across the continent and on all islands.

    Other forms of cruelty picked up by the RSPCA, an unknown amount never detected.

    Legal cruelty in the meat production trade, in science and the cosmetics industry.

    Unfair treatment of Aborigines by police, by the justice system, and the rate of black deaths in custody.

    The average life span of an Aboriginal is ten years less than for a white due to health problems related to living conditions, drugs, disease, and violence. Infant mortality is higher than for any other group, as is deafness from glue-ear, and blindness from cataracts and diabetes. There is no intrinsic reason for any of this - it is entirely the result of white treatment of Aborigines over many generations.

    Cruel punishment of youths in detention.

    Putting refugees and asylum seekers who come illegally into concentration camps off-shore in abominable conditions.

    Widespread and systemic sexual abuse of children in church schools of all denominations, and by carers in orphanages and state institutions.

    None of this touches on the more "minor" endemic problems.

    Feel free to add to my list if you wish.

      July 27, 2016 1:08 AM MDT
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  • Hi ambi,

    I'm an Aussie.

    Further up among the posts here, I've added some background facts of that will answer some of your questions.

    It is cruel, and I don't condone it.

      July 27, 2016 2:19 AM MDT
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  • I suppose no one thought that a Dingoe may also have a problem differentiating between the bleating of a baby goat and a human baby? 

    No more baby-eaters!

      July 27, 2016 10:27 AM MDT
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  • I'm wondering why they don;t just chemically or urgically render the Dingoes infertile so they cannot breed?  THat would seem to be a more logical and humane method.

      July 27, 2016 12:54 PM MDT
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  • 1113

    I know what you mean. I keep thinking of Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park: "Life always finds a way..." 

    Still, it seems straightforward enough, the dogs are "desexed", dingoes are well known and understood creatures, so major surprises are unlikely. At least this is part of a well thought out plan, as opposed to "hey, you know what this island needs? Goats!". 

      July 27, 2016 1:00 PM MDT
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  • 1113

    They are doing that in addition to the poison. The dingoes would be a nuisance and possible danger to people once their "job" of eliminating the goats is finished.

      July 27, 2016 1:07 PM MDT
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  • 1113

    I would think that if they had the resources to simply round up all the goats, they would have already made a plan to do so.

      July 27, 2016 1:08 PM MDT
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  • sorry for the typos...my kb is a POS.

    This entire thread bovidcide and ravenous, limited-life dingoes is making me uncomfortable 

      July 27, 2016 4:55 PM MDT
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