{"id":2978,"date":"2017-07-05T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-07-04T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ourplanet.org\/clyde-graf-new-zealands-long-term-use-of-1080-is-poisoning-forest-ecosystems-and-could-drive-birds-and-insect-populations-to-extinction\/"},"modified":"2023-05-11T19:15:30","modified_gmt":"2023-05-11T06:15:30","slug":"clyde-graf-new-zealands-long-term-use-of-1080-is-poisoning-forest-ecosystems-and-could-drive-birds-and-insect-populations-to-extinction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourplanet.org\/greenplanetfm\/clyde-graf-new-zealands-long-term-use-of-1080-is-poisoning-forest-ecosystems-and-could-drive-birds-and-insect-populations-to-extinction\/","title":{"rendered":"Clyde Graf: New Zealand's long-term use of 1080 is poisoning forest ecosystems and could drive birds and insect populations to extinction"},"content":{"rendered":"
Clyde Graf<\/strong> and his brother Steve were introduced to the outdoors by their father, Egon. For a period spanning 30 years, Egon Graf was In 1996, Egon\u2019s youngest son Steve made a trip to Canada, with his video camera, captured some amazing wildlife footage. Upon his return he teamed up with Since then, The Graf Boys<\/strong> have produced six hunting and outdoors DVD titles, and two documentaries. Their documentary, Poisoning Paradise<\/a>, See their You Tube Channel The Graf Boys<\/a>.<\/p>\n The movie Poisoning Paradise is about the aerial dispersal of 1080 throughout New Zealand in order to kill rodents, mustelids and possums. This poisoning What is 1080? <\/p>\n Sodium fluoroacetate, known in pesticide form as 1080, is the organofluorine chemical compound with the formula FCH\u2082CO\u2082Na. This colourless salt has a taste 1080 is extremely toxic to all air-breathing organisms. It blocks the body\u2019s muscle and organ's ability to absorb energy from its food, and results in Controversy<\/p>\n Not only is 1080 highly toxic to mammals, birds and insects- one scientist has even discovered that it is toxic to plants and so forests do not do so well The former may be controversial, but in general 1080 and its effects on animals through primary and secondary poisoning, and on humans through water supplies, In this interview Clyde gives important information on the New Zealand government\u2019s financial interest in 1080. New Zealand uses 80% of all 1080 used in Bird Deaths<\/p>\n 19 different native bird species have had corpses test positive for 1080 after aerial 1080 operations, however, it is known that the small sample size, Birds reported killed by 1080 poisoned cereal baits include morepork, weka, tomtits and grey warbler, and fauna known to eat cereal bait include kea<\/a>, kaka, little spotted kiwi, kokako, saddleback, kakariki, pukeko, insects, koura and lizards.<\/p>\n Possum Numbers<\/p>\n The number of possums in New Zealand was estimated at 47.6 million in the mid 1980\u2019s. When possum control is taken into account, the number of possums In a Landcare Research document 2009 it states:<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n \u201cControl of possums alone may not always have net benefits for native biodiversity because, for example, of the increase in rodent numbers, and hence predation This is important because once the ecosystem is no longer managing itself and is interfered with by humans, it no longer functions so effectively. \u201cIt Poisoning from 1080 occurs through eating the dosed baits (cereal pellets) or from the flesh of poisoned animals. Carcasses remain poisonous until they Dog Deaths<\/p>\n The Life Style Block<\/a> (LSB) website states regarding dogs and 1080:<\/p>\n \u201cDog owners should take particular care near areas where 1080 poison has been used as dogs are extremely susceptible to the poison.<\/p>\n There is no antidote and it causes every appearance of extreme distress in dogs, and the signs can last for hours before the dog dies. It\u2019s very distressing!<\/p>\n Poisoned carcasses can remain poisonous to scavenging dogs for many months if they have been preserved in very dry conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n Death from 1080 poisoning typically involves nausea, vomiting, convulsions, pain and foaming of the mouth, and can take anywhere from 1-72 hrs, depending Animal rights organisation SAFE<\/a> has concerns over 1080 use and calls it a \u201ccruel and indiscriminate Do we as humans really have the right to kill sentient beings in such a gruelling manner?<\/p>\n Drinking Water?<\/p>\n Clyde is now involved in a new web site www.watersourcenz.org<\/a> which will become live shortly Scientific Overview<\/p>\n In 2009, Scientists Pat and Quinn Whiting-OKeefe presented to Taupo District Council on 1080. They included the following information: <\/p>\n \u201cFirst, there is not a single scientifically credible study showing that aerial 1080 when used on the mainland is of net benefit to any species of New Second, there is overwhelming evidence from DoC\u2019s own research that aerial 1080 is killing large numbers of native animals, including birds, insects and Third, there is not a single ecosystem level study. That is, we don\u2019t have the slightest idea of unintended consequences and secondary negative effects Fourth, while it is probable that possums, if unchecked, would in time cause some shift of tree species in our forests, the degree of that shift is not Fifth, DoC\u2019s 1080 research is generally of poor scientific quality, is biased in favour of DoC\u2019s agenda, and DoC chronically and systematically misrepresents Sixth, regarding bovine tuberculosis (TB), AHB\u2019s own research shows that there is a clear alternative: ground-based baiting with species-specific bait Clyde points out that New Zealand is classed as being free from TB, and that only 50 possums have ever been found to have been infected with TB.<\/p>\n The Whiting-O\u2019Keefe\u2019s are two retired PhD scientists from the USA were interviewed about the problems of 1080<\/a> by GreenplanetFM.com - in 2010. <\/p>\n Alternative Strategy <\/p>\n
\n a professional deer hunter, based in Te Urewera National Park.<\/p>\n
\n his brother Clyde, and together they began to make The Graf Boys' videos.<\/p>\n
\n has won four international awards (England, Ireland, Japan, and Culture Unplugged online festival). <\/p>\n
\n now has become a highly controversial topic with conservationists, environmentalists, and members of the public.<\/p>\n
\n similar to that of sodium chloride and is used as a metabolic poison. <\/p>\n
\n a slow and inhumane death, typically 8 -24 hours for birds, 2-4 days for large mammals. There is no known antidote for this deadly poison.<\/p>\n
\n after 1080 drops. <\/p>\n
\n is not well researched, especially considering the huge amount of 1080 poison tipped from helicopters over our forests. If there are any unanswered
\n questions about its use and the results, then more research must be undertaken, not only by DoC (Department of Conservation) but by independent scientists<\/a>, preferably from overseas, to avoid any collusion.<\/p>\n
\n the world. In fact it is banned in most countries overseas.<\/p>\n
\n and the lack of a control group needs highlighting. There is a need for long term population monitoring. These concerns are completely absent in DoC
\n summaries.<\/p>\n
\n has reduced to an estimated 30 million as of 2008\/9. This is not a very large reduction when considering both the environmental and the financial cost
\n of the large scale poisoning operations.<\/p>\n
\n on native animals, that can occur when possum numbers are reduced (Ruscoe et al. 2008).\u201d<\/p>\n
\n takes one year for rat populations to come back to pre-poisoning levels. By the second year rat numbers were higher than before the operation\u201d, Dr
\n Ruscoe from Landcare said. Scientists warn<\/a> that this paves the way to rat plagues.<\/p>\n
\n are completely decomposed, which makes 1080 particularly lethal to dogs.<\/p>\n
\n on the species and the dose. From an animal rights perspective, we should not be allowing such an extremely painful death. Possums stoats and rats
\n are not the only animals to die this way. Other wild and domestic animals become unintended kill, and it persists through the food chain.<\/p>\n
\n poison\u201d.<\/p>\n
\n ( if it isn\u2019t already). On the home page it asks the question, \u201cDo you drink bottled water sourced from New Zealand forests?\u201d The question is relevant
\n not only about bottled water but about water coming to us from such places as the Hunua dam in Auckland, which is fed from streams that have been in
\n 1080 drop areas. Can we trust the DOC and health board information we are given when we know that government has financial conflicts of interest? Listen
\n to the interview for more on this.<\/p>\n
\n Zealand\u2019s native fauna. Thus the upside for native species is entirely unproven, despite 15 years of increasingly desperate attempts by DoC to show
\n one.<\/p>\n
\n other invertebrates. Moreover most native species remain entirely unstudied. Thus there is plenty of proven downside for native species.<\/p>\n
\n of which ecological science assures us there are many.<\/p>\n
\n great and fear of canopy collapse is wholly unwarranted.<\/p>\n
\n what their own scientific research actually shows.<\/p>\n
\n stations. Plus possums as a vector for bovine TB can be controlled by trapping or ground-based baiting solely at the forest pasture margins to a depth
\n of 3-4 km.\u201d<\/p>\n