Jennifer Marohasy

a forum for the discussion of issues concerning the natural environment

Dugong Slaughter Suspended

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Good news! Traditional hunters have agreed to suspend the hunting of dugongs and turtles in North Queensland. More here.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. spangled drongo says

    This is well and truly overdue.

    Allowing “native rights” and “traditional hunting” of these beautiful creatures using 6 metre tinnies powered by 200 hp outboards and hunters with firearms is reverse racism gone mad.

    I was recently offered a feed of dugong by a similarly equipped part-aboriginal but declined.

  3. Cyril of Gladstone says

    I find the statement that they “have agreed to suspend fishing” enlightening. Nobody else in Australia is even consulted on any of these laws or asked for our “agreement” we are told what we can and can not do.
    I am sure most people in Australia would not mind the hunting if they used traditional methods, that is a bark canoe powered by a paddle and a spear.

  4. Kate H says

    True -it seems acceptable that fishing from a dugout is the only way. Checking out the lifestyle for oneself before judgment is always wise.

  5. Jewel Rainbow says

    Excellent news! Most people acknowledge the right of Indigenous people to traditional hunting, however cruelty such as we (and international tourists) have witnessed off Cairns and in the Torres Strait is NEVER excusable, for cultural nor any other reason. We must treat animals much more humanely, including ending factory farming and replacing it with healthier, more humane farming methods (see Compassion In World Farming for more info: http://www.ciwf.co.uk)

  6. Alex says

    Barbarism should be abolished whatever form it comes in. Approving and legalising, even protecting ‘traditional’ activities, if streched a bit, may also mean approving cannibalism where this existed in the past.

  7. Alex says

    It’s good to note that in one autonomous region of Catalonia of Spain, bull fighting has been abolished. Blood sport and other bloody and useless activites must be abolished worldwide. If we have to eat meat we have to do the killing under proper and humane conditions. Toture is never acceptable and in no way should tradition prevail over risks of endangering a species.