Wednesday, November 29, 1972
PROTECTION OF WILD LIFE
The hunting or trapping of Chinese porcupines and a number of
marine mammals will be prohibited under a bill introduced into Legislative
Council today.
The Attorney General, the Hon. D.T.E. Roberts told the Council
today that the government will endeavour to give maximum protection under
the law to any species of wild life which are in danger of becoming extinct.
He was moving the second reading of the Wild Birds and Wild
Mammals Protection (Amendment) Bill 1972.
The Chinese porcupine, a unique group of rodents of special
zoological interest, is fast declining in numbers because it is frequently
trapped for human consumption, and because of the difficulty in reproduction.
In addition to the Chinese porcupine, the bill also prohibits the
hunting of dolphins, whales and dugongs or "mermaids".
To improve the enforcement of the legislation, the bill seeks to
empower police officers, as well as J stices of the Peace and game wardens to
inspect game licences, arrest offenders, and to seize nets, gins and snares
used to trap or kill wild birds or animals.
/21
Page 20Page 21
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.