Announcement of Kiwi Hunting Contract on Island Sparks Outrage

 A meeting of the Molokai Hunting Working group descended into chaos on Tuesday, January 23 the Nature Conservancy (TNC) suggestion several projects in which a New Zealand group, Pro-Hunt, would be contracted to perform animal monitoring and hunting.

Much of the hunting community on hand were angered, believing that Pro-Hunt would be paid to do the same work that Molokai hunters perform for survival. Attendees pointed out that local hunters should instead receive the contracts.

Several hunters said they felt disrespected by TNC’s decision to bring “trained” hunters to do a job that local hunters presumably have done for subsistence for many generations.  “You can do the same [job] with some of these local guys who [are] not even working,” said one man.

But many of the differing beliefs within the Hunting Working Group have unclear the facts and details of TNC’s proposed projects.  The main confusion prior to the Pro-Hunt announcement seems to surround the number of ungulates, hoofed animal such as goat and wild boar, which TNC aims to reduce.  Some locals believe that TNC is interested only in total eradication.  

But TNC aims to reduce signs of ungulate activity along their monitored transects to just 10% of the pre-hunt figures. This takes place on an ongoing basis with monthly hunts that have never reached the aim of 10%. Throughout this ongoing process, TNC employs the aid of local hunters.

Without control of the ungulate population, invasive species are spread, forests irreparably damaged from the roots up, and the habitat of native species is destroyed.  In addition to this, the function of watersheds is impaired, fresh water is contaminated by disease-causing organisms and reef siltation is increased by accelerated erosion. 

Although the fencing-in of animals has been proven to be TNC’s most successful method of control thus far, hunters have expressed anger over the restriction of their hunting areas as well as problems where fences have hampered the recovery of lost hunting dogs.

TNC fencebuilding, leading up to high altitudes

ProHunt

ProHunt has completed over 500 projects across various terrain in New Zealand and Australia, much of which is comparable to Molokai’s dense canopy forests and steep cliffs.  A spokesperson for TNC has given numerous assurances that the ProHunt group have worked on a variety of projects set against a backdrop of Hawaiian-like landscapes. Photos showing similar terrain can be found at http://www.lordhoweisland.info/photos.html  and http://www.photonewzealand.com/Main/GalleryMain/index.cfm.

However, a local claims to have hunted with one man from the ProHunt group who left the expedition prematurely due to the level of difficulty posed by Molokai terrain.

Pro-Hunt will be mainly participating in two monitoring projects. The first aims at locating the home range and habitat of hoofed animals in the Kamakou Reserve and in the Pelekuna Valley.  Through use of GIS and radio collars, the movements of these animals will be tracked via satellite both across fences and natural barriers. The team hopes to discover how and why these movements take place. 

damage in fenced area contrasts with area uneaten by goats

As for public relations, TNC has reported that understanding of the ProHunt projects within the Hunting Working Group can be achieved with a high level of dialogue, which they unfortunately see as unreachable in a large group situation. 

TNC’S Strategic Communications Manager Evelyn Wight claimed that the first small group, which met on January 29, did indeed exit the meeting with a better understanding and appreciation of the proposed projects.