Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust Durrell management

[jtrbmvcq]

These anti Jersey management people have to say something to get into the media - Bambi works.

Nail on head. I did have a chuckle at the contraception suggestion.

 

[jersey_insider]

It’s unfortunately naive to think deer don’t have to be managed.

That is not the critics' position.

 

[Lafone]

That is not the critics' position.

I was also referring to the wider discussion but I think the position taken is disingenuous in any case.

 

[GaryA]

This is a well argued point which I agree with, until the second last paragraph at least - except to mention that wild shot venison is costing the zoos in my area FAR more than 30p per kilo. If you know of sources at that price, I am sure the local zoos would appreciate the contact.
edit - a second point is that cartridges (ie from a shot-gun) would not normally be used on deer, and if they were a zoo would not be able to take the result due to the contamination. Deer are usually rifle shot.

I think you have misunderstood the point. They are not saying venison would cost a zoo 30p per kg. They are saying what it costs someone to shoot/cull a deer per the return on the meat, and that there is very little cash return. Therefore, private 'deer stalking' rather than farm related culling is much more profitable.
I would suggest transporting deer carcasses from Scotland to Jersey would cost a zoo a damn sight more than that! And would be pointless anyway, given the fact Jersey Zoo doesn't contain any large carnivores.
Cartridges vs bullets just shows that someone may well be unfamiliar with gun terminology. Not fair to pick up that error as a point against them.
Regarding the poster who suggested putting the deer on birth control, I wonder if they think this is some sort of static population in a fenced in game reserve, rather than a wild population that travels (if not migrates).
Simply put, the lack of natural predators has led to an explosion of deer numbers which has decimated the landscape in places due to their feeding habits.
As humans did away with the natural predators it is incumbent on us to manage the deer population.
If we don't, they will starve in poor feeding situations, and Lyme disease, caused by deer-borne ticks, becomes more common which is also a human concern.
This is the whole argument for reintroducing wolves or even lynx back to the UK, to predate on the burgeoning deer populations.
Or maybe that is what the alleged panthers and pumas are doing, to a much lesser degree!
The antis are clearly trying to drum up bad PR against the management.
I would think Jersey, as part of their research, must consider that conservation must consider culling and hunting as part of management of wild populations as a benefit or money earner to assist in preserving not only land but endangered populations on that land. South African hunting on game reserves offers a parallel.
Some aspects of conservation involve making decisions that would not be acceptable to the fluffy bunny hugger vegan members, and this effort by the antis to start a smear campaign shows their desperation.

 

[ZooNews2024]

I think you have misunderstood the point. They are not saying venison would cost a zoo 30p per kg. They are saying what it costs someone to shoot/cull a deer per the return on the meat, and that there is very little cash return. Therefore, private 'deer stalking' rather than farm related culling is much more profitable.
I would suggest transporting deer carcasses from Scotland to Jersey would cost a zoo a damn sight more than that! And would be pointless anyway, given the fact Jersey Zoo doesn't contain any large carnivores.
Cartridges vs bullets just shows that someone may well be unfamiliar with gun terminology. Not fair to pick up that error as a point against them.
Regarding the poster who suggested putting the deer on birth control, I wonder if they think this is some sort of static population in a fenced in game reserve, rather than a wild population that travels (if not migrates).
Simply put, the lack of natural predators has led to an explosion of deer numbers which has decimated the landscape in places due to their feeding habits.
As humans did away with the natural predators it is incumbent on us to manage the deer population.
If we don't, they will starve in poor feeding situations, and Lyme disease, caused by deer-borne ticks, becomes more common which is also a human concern.
This is the whole argument for reintroducing wolves or even lynx back to the UK, to predate on the burgeoning deer populations.
Or maybe that is what the alleged panthers and pumas are doing, to a much lesser degree!
The antis are clearly trying to drum up bad PR against the management.
I would think Jersey, as part of their research, must consider that conservation must consider culling and hunting as part of management of wild populations as a benefit or money earner to assist in preserving not only land but endangered populations on that land. South African hunting on game reserves offers a parallel.
Some aspects of conservation involve making decisions that would not be acceptable to the fluffy bunny hugger vegan members, and this effort by the antis to start a smear campaign shows their desperation.

OK, but I would still be interested to know where this cost of 30p to shoot and cull comes from, as it must vary hugely with terrain, location, and the type of team hired or maybe a small amateur group or even single gun doing it.
Yes of course it is very obvious that stalking has a higher monetary value that simple culling, as the client is paying extra for the whole experience. If both are done properly, there is no difference for the deer themselves either way.
My reply to the mistake made regarding rifle shooting as opposed by that using shot-guns was a simple correction of facts, rather than 'point scoring' whatever you imply that to mean.