The Department of Conservation (Doc) issued a statement yesterday condemning the shooting of two red-billed gulls (tarapūnga) in Highcliff and North Dunedin and the shooting of a southern black-backed gull, found with a BB gun pellet lodged in its neck in Green Island.
Doc coastal Otago operations manager Gabe Davies said the shootings happened over the past two months and were only detected after the sick or injured animals were taken to the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital.
"We urge the public to report any incidents involving firearms and native birds, or any protected native species for that matter.
"It’s alarming to think injuries of this nature may not have been picked up on in the past."
Dunedin Wildlife Hospital director and senior wildlife veterinarian Dr Lisa Argilla said those who worked at the wildlife hospital dedicated their lives to saving native wildlife.
"The hardest cases, the ones that really leave an impact on our team, are the cases such as this where a human being has caused the injury and ultimately needless death of an innocent animal.
"It is absolutely appalling and extremely concerning that there is someone out there in our Dunedin community who is showing such little regard for the beautiful manu [birds] that we share this planet with."
Mr Davies said native red-billed gulls were protected and despite their apparent abundance, were in decline around New Zealand.
Black-backed gulls were not protected, but wilful ill-treatment of a wild animal was a violation of the Animal Welfare Act, he said.
- 0800 DOC HOT
