1080 poisoning an animal welfare catastrophe for New Zealand

SAFE is calling on the Government to prioritise funding for research into humane alternatives to 1080.

The poison has been used in New Zealand since 1954 to control populations of certain animals. The use of 1080 to control animal populations in New Zealand falls under the Animal Welfare Act 1999, which sets out the legal framework for ensuring the welfare of animals in the country.

However, 1080 causes a slow and torturous death, and can take up to 18 hours to kill.

SAFE Head of Campaigns, Marianne Macdonald, acknowledges that population control is a difficult subject, but says 1080 is not the answer.

“1080 inflicts a cruel, slow death on animals – both targeted and non-targeted species. Caring New Zealanders would be up in arms if this appalling suffering was inflicted on dogs or cats. It’s time to view the welfare of all animals equally.”

“SAFE acknowledges that population control is a complex issue, but 1080 is not the solution. We urge the Government to direct funding to research into more humane alternatives, which do not subject animals to a slow and painful death.”

Other countries have either banned or severely restricted the use of 1080 because of its non-discriminatory and extreme toxicity. Approximately 80% of the world’s 1080 is dropped in NZ.

“One option for population control which could be worth exploring is fertility control – but any research in this area needs to be done without harm to animals.”

“Not only is 1080 cruel, but it’s also ineffective. We’ve been dropping the poison for over 60 years and it hasn’t solved the problem. Further research into alternatives will help us explore more humane solutions, and also more effective ones.”

Find out more about 1080.