Muttonbird Chicks Under Attack Again

Short-tailed shearwaters (muttonbirds) migrate from the Arctic region to the southern parts of Australia -- a 30,000 km round trip -- every year. Here on our shores they return to the same burrow every year and each pair lays just one egg.

Muttonbirds are protected by an international treaty and are protected by all Australian states except Tasmania. Despite the Tasmanian Government describing these birds as 'one of the world's most amazing migratory birds', they will permit around 100,000 chicks to be killed this year for meat and oil (including recreational and commercial seasons).

Recreational 'harvesters' are allowed to take 15 to 25 birds per day, which means that a single licensed person can take up to 400 chicks during the 16-day killing season. To make matters worse, no training or experience is required in killing the birds quickly and with a minimum of pain. It is highly likely that many birds suffer prolonged and painful deaths.

Please urgently call on Bryan Green, Tas Minister for Primary Industries, and Tas Premier Lara Giddings to join all other Australian states in protecting these birds and to end Tasmania's slaughter of muttonbirds.

Take Action!

Subject: (please enter a subject line) Dear Decision Maker, (please edit the letter below, or send as-is) I call on you to stop the killing of muttonbirds in Tasmania. Every year tens of thousands of muttonbird chicks in Tasmania are taken from their burrows and killed by commercial and non-commercial 'harvesters'. The chicks have their necks broken, often by inexperienced hands. The killing of muttonbirds can't be justified by the practice being a tradition. Traditions and culture change constantly and need to be reviewed against current knowledge and morals. Muttonbirding would not pass the test. Muttonbirds are protected by an international treaty and are protected by all other Australian states. I urgently call on you to join the rest of Australia in protecting these birds and to end Tasmania's slaughter of muttonbirds. Sincerely, Your Name

We will send this e-mail to:

• Bryan Green, Minister for Primary Industries
• Lara Giddings, Premier of Tasmania

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