Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 6, 2023 14:07:58 GMT 12
I wonder if this Alan Whicker special still exists somewhere? From The Press on 6th of October 1973, exactly 50 years ago.
Killing red deer to save wapiti
When Alan Whicker came to New Zealand he stopped over in the South Island’s south-west comer to film scenes in Fiordland National Park, the country’s largest, and one of the finest in the world. His film showed venison hunters bringing deer carcases out of the forests by helicopter, a sight which naturally dismayed many overseas viewers who were shocked to think that such things were allowed in a national park.
There wasn’t time on a Whicker programme to explain exactly why such things were permitted by the Fiordland National Parks Board. The need to reduce the population of red deer in the park arose long before the prices for venison made the hunting of these beautiful animals a paying proposition for shooters. Helicopter shooting is only allowed under the strict supervision of park board authorities and was permitted only because there is no other way of getting red deer numbers reduced in some of the special areas where the rugged nature of the country makes ground shooting impossible.
One of these special areas is the home of the only wapiti herd in the southern hemisphere. The herd is now threatened with destruction because of inter-breeding with the increasing numbers of red deer in the area. Helicopters bring out good specimens, which are released on a large open range on the fringe of the park to be bred in captivity. This attractive property will shortly be opened to the public as a game reserve.
Other varieties of deer have also been released there. In the meantime, park-rangers hope that with controlled shooting of the wapiti area by helicopter, red deer numbers will be reduced to suitable proportions. The red deer is an asset to the park as long as it does not endanger other species and is not allowed to prevent the natural regeneration of the forests in which all species live.
Pictured: A helicopter depositing deer carcases on the shores of Lake Manapouri.
Killing red deer to save wapiti
When Alan Whicker came to New Zealand he stopped over in the South Island’s south-west comer to film scenes in Fiordland National Park, the country’s largest, and one of the finest in the world. His film showed venison hunters bringing deer carcases out of the forests by helicopter, a sight which naturally dismayed many overseas viewers who were shocked to think that such things were allowed in a national park.
There wasn’t time on a Whicker programme to explain exactly why such things were permitted by the Fiordland National Parks Board. The need to reduce the population of red deer in the park arose long before the prices for venison made the hunting of these beautiful animals a paying proposition for shooters. Helicopter shooting is only allowed under the strict supervision of park board authorities and was permitted only because there is no other way of getting red deer numbers reduced in some of the special areas where the rugged nature of the country makes ground shooting impossible.
One of these special areas is the home of the only wapiti herd in the southern hemisphere. The herd is now threatened with destruction because of inter-breeding with the increasing numbers of red deer in the area. Helicopters bring out good specimens, which are released on a large open range on the fringe of the park to be bred in captivity. This attractive property will shortly be opened to the public as a game reserve.
Other varieties of deer have also been released there. In the meantime, park-rangers hope that with controlled shooting of the wapiti area by helicopter, red deer numbers will be reduced to suitable proportions. The red deer is an asset to the park as long as it does not endanger other species and is not allowed to prevent the natural regeneration of the forests in which all species live.
Pictured: A helicopter depositing deer carcases on the shores of Lake Manapouri.
