-Pokey-

My daughter recently did an assignment on Thylacines. All of the research pointed to them being extinct. A few unsubstantiated sightings on both the mainland and Tas, but no confirmed sightings, no dropping or other evidence. I hope they are hidden away somewhere just like the wollemi pine.

There were some (typically) blurry photos taken a while back by an aboriginal tracker up in WA, Google is being unhelpful with the site that has copies of them (from memory it was in Spanish) but it had a few different shots and excerpts from an interview with the tracker. It was quite an interesting story, despite how unlikely it is.

It's certainly unfortunate but.. the methods used are at least more humane than those used in China and ultimately, it's probably kinder to the animals to destroy them, given some of the likely alternatives to a clean shot (disease, starvation, fighting, etc).

I mean, if they knew who did it they would have been able to prosecute them.

Not necessarily. They might know without having enough evidence to stand up in a prosecution.

Pokey, the people I heard the story from weren't focussed on the motivation for the release nor trying to give it an anti-hunter spin, their interest was in the eradication effort.

Given how efficiently rumours spread down here, I think it's highly unlikely that any individual or group suspected of deliberately introducing a breeding population of foxes into Tasmania would remain an anonymous "they" for very long, even if the authorities, themselves, lacked the evidence to actually prosecute.

A pro-hunting group released 6 foxes in Tasmania back in 2000 as an act of environmental vandalism in response to changed hunting laws. They caught 3 or 4, I think, in that first year, but never got the last ones. No one has seen one since, but there has been fox scats analysed and positively IDed. And Steve Austen has been training dogs to signal on fox scat for work down there.

Just out of curiosity.. do you have a source for this? I'm not suggesting it's untrue, I just can't understand the reasoning behind releasing foxes as "environmental vandalism" when they then made efforts to recover what they'd released*.

And that point aside, not only could Google not provide a single article to support the above, I've lived in Tasmania for 25 years and never heard any rumours to this effect.

Edit-

* This is akin to spray painting graffiti all over a wall and then washing it off again; just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

I just did a quick google search and came up with this

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/20...030123_fox.html

Haven't read it all.

Although that article mentions deliberate release (although without conclusive evidence), it's not mentioned anywhere that this alleged release was conducted by pro-hunting groups or as an act of environmental vandalism.

I'm loath to make assumptions but it sounds suspiciously like agenda-driven rumour (*cough* AACT *cough*) to me.

I've heard that same deliberate release story.

Can you provide a source though? If not, it's best to be clear upfront that what you're repeating is hearsay only and not fact- that's what I'm getting at.

Either way, it's clearly a terrible thing but spreading misinformation (as this can only be considered, given no sources are apparently available) as fact really isn't productive.

Name: Madeleine (Maddy)

Age (optional): 25

Location: Launceston, Tasmania

Rescue Group: Previously GAP Tasmania, not working with any group currently

Time in Rescue: since 2007

Who can vouch for: Fiona Ransley and Michelle Fletcher from GAP Tas and Panterka (if she's still around)

Preferred Breed: Greyhounds, although happy to help most larger breeds

Experience (if any): Some volunteer work at the RSPCA, fostering for GAP and GAP committee.

Microchip: Yes.

Vaccination: Yes C5

Desexing: Yes, always.

Heartworm test: Yes

worming: Yes

flea treatment: Yes

vet work if required: Yes

basic training/teach manners: Yes

house train dogs: Yes

Dogs inside the home or outside: Inside most of the day, daily walks

Are you prepared to give extra care for a submissive nervous dog: Yes

We can provide temp care for greyhounds/large breeds (preferably 48 hours notice) and foster care (one week notice). Can also provide transport in the Northern Tas area.

Can transport small dogs but not offer temp or foster care.

Can't edit this post (I lost password to old account ) so quoted and updated.

A pro-hunting group released 6 foxes in Tasmania back in 2000 as an act of environmental vandalism in response to changed hunting laws. They caught 3 or 4, I think, in that first year, but never got the last ones. No one has seen one since, but there has been fox scats analysed and positively IDed. And Steve Austen has been training dogs to signal on fox scat for work down there.

Just out of curiosity.. do you have a source for this? I'm not suggesting it's untrue, I just can't understand the reasoning behind releasing foxes as "environmental vandalism" when they then made efforts to recover what they'd released*.

And that point aside, not only could Google not provide a single article to support the above, I've lived in Tasmania for 25 years and never heard any rumours to this effect.

Edit-

* This is akin to spray painting graffiti all over a wall and then washing it off again; just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.