Hope in sight for turtles and dugongs!

14 March 2012 Have your say

VICTORY 20/06/12:
Thanks to the efforts of Animals Australia supporters and other caring Australians the Queensland government has removed animal cruelty exemptions for 'traditional' hunting of turtles and dugongs.

This is a huge win for turtles and dugongs in Far North Queensland, who will now be fully protected under the Animal Care and Protection Act and spared the suffering caused by cruel 'traditional' hunting methods.

If you were one of the thousands of people who took action to protect turtles and dugongs then we sincerely thank you for helping make this important victory possible. Please take a moment to also thank the QLD Government for this significant decision.

The Hon John McVeigh, Minister for Agriculture

(07) 3239 3000

Turtles and dugongs in far north Queensland are in deep water. Their numbers are dwindling and Queensland law is failing to protect them from brutal slaughter. But a recent pledge by the new QLD Liberal National Party Government may mean hope is in sight for these threatened animals.

Campaigning by Animals Australia and colleague groups recently led to two hard-hitting reports on ABC's 7.30. The reports included footage filmed by QLD environmental advocate, Rupert Imhoff, exposing the cruel slaughter of turtles and dugongs for 'traditional' hunting and a black market trade in their meat and body parts.

WARNING: This video contains graphic footage.

These 'traditional' hunts are not only exempt from laws to protect endangered species, but in Queensland are also exempt from laws protecting animals from cruelty — allowing turtles to be carved up whilst still conscious and dugongs to be dragged for many minutes by boat, with their head under water, until they drown.

Sea turtles and dugongs subjected to these cruel hunting methods, along with other animals that are traditionally hunted such as kangaroos and goannas, all feel pain, fear and distress — regardless of who the perpetrator is. Cultures the world over are now acknowledging that tradition is no excuse for cruelty.

Following the 7.30 exposé, the QLD LNP pledged that they would remove the animal cruelty exemptions that leave these animals unprotected by cruelty laws within their first 100 days in office. Indigenous elders have also expressed their support for this proposal.

We will continue to monitor the situation regarding this commitment and will provide more updates here when further developments arise.

Post a commentYour Say: 579 comments

PricePerDozen: Aside from the cruelty Saturday, 4 May 2013 at 10:03pm

Aside from the cruelty kids- the harvest of these ENDANGERED species is unsustainable and the ongoing harvest will ultimately lead to their EXTINCTION.

Furthermore it is not a traditional right to hunt these animals for commercial gain as they currently are.

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Emmee: cruelty Saturday, 27 April 2013 at 11:47pm

This is super hypocritical, how many of you eat cage eggs, regular beef, chicken or pork that isn't free range and drinking milk? Do your research, those animals face a life time of cruelty and on a much larger scale. You want the islanders to stop eating their traditional meat because its cruel? Then stop eating store bought meat and drinking milk. It's not as humane as you think.

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nicnric: learn before you judge Saturday, 27 April 2013 at 11:34pm

It seems it is ok for Caucasians to float into this country and enforce their traditions upon all without considering that there was already a pre-existing culture (40000 years old) complete with its own traditions. The hypocrisy in the past comments are enough to make people with sense laugh. No one can take such an ingrained part of a culture away, especially when groceries stores, in reality are still "new" in terms of indigenous society. However, there is an urgent need to protect the species under threat, NOT ONLY because of hunting but mining, fishing nets, even plastic bags. We all can make a difference to saving the animals by protesting against overly destructive mining, not using bags and traditional hunters not being greedy. The racist remarks need to be  left behind and constructive steps taken. Perhaps there is a market for a humane electric turtle and dugong prod? That seems to be the norm for slaughtering the white way these days.
The comment about getting "your hands out of my tax money", you're tax money pays the government to put more mining in place (we all know about mining run off, yes?), sell blocks of Australian land and companies overseas, allow fishing boats to trawl our waters and let our country be leeched of its original wealth. Your problem isn't the fact that people live on Centrelink due to lack of employment in small communities, it's ignorance.

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Rolf Petterson: People First Thursday, 10 January 2013 at 6:18pm

Maybe we got it wrong. To many double standards in our society. Man comes before planet. If animals be our food then why so squeamish. It is a bit like Climate change from man made carbon, another heap of rubbish. The human race in everything we create, do or use, even our wars we create carbon. Climate Change? the more carbon dioxide in our planets atmosphere the more stable it becomes. The governments who cut back on carbon and the so called green groups are really de-stabalising the planet. The human race (if youl  look at our tooth structure) is what is called omniverious. In other words we are designed to eat anything including baby animals. So throw another chop on the barbiecue and enjoy a great day.

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RUBENICE: RESPEITO AOS ANIMAIS Wednesday, 5 December 2012 at 4:15am

PELO AMOR DE DEUS!OS ANIMAIS MERECEM RESPEITO E REZO TODOS OS DIAS POR SUA PROTEÇÃO

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Mel Do: Hypocricy and better management objectives. Friday, 31 August 2012 at 1:00pm

Funny how it's the minister of Agriculture who's calling it 'cruel' traditional hunting methods. Dugongs and turtles have been hunted way before Westerners came to Australia, and indigenous people had done it in a sustainable manner since they respect all creatures that support life. Now we come in, destroying dugong habitat with coastal development, runoff that primarily comes from.. what.. AGRICULTURAL practices.. that adversely affects seagrass beds which are important marine habitats that dugongs, and other significant organisms, rely on for survival since it's their primary food source as they are herbivorous.

Their population numbers crashed since these developments increased over the past few years, not because of traditional hunting. We have no right to call indigenous people inhumane due to the fact that we kill all different types of animals for our own consumption.. what, killing cows, pigs, chickens, etc. is considered humane? Bloody hypocrites. Start focusing on managing urban runoff, boat traffic, fishing and fishing gear, coastal development etc. and stop thrashing out traditional hunting cause it's just an excuse to blame others and be racist. They have the right to continue their traditions, and we don't have the right to force them to stop since it's unjustified that we can continue to destroying dugong feeding habitat and striking them with our boats. Oh, and don't forget the new mining projects that will add to their decline!

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Samantha: Stop the Slaughter Sunday, 12 August 2012 at 7:54am

This is still happening. I live on Thursday Island and witness this in humane and cruel practise of so called traditional hunting practises every day. Right now there is a beautiful turtle tied and staked at Cooks landing struggling to get away while it awaits its cruel and untimely death. Seen another 2 being slaughtered in the same spot yesterday afternoon. Had their flippers cut off while still alive. Bloody discusting acts of cruelty to animals. Where and when is the ploicing of this going to start. Most of it it sold on the black market.

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Amena: Omh Monday, 30 July 2012 at 9:35pm

I can't believe it took so many poor turtles and dugongs to prove to everyone that wat there was something wrong with thay

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Eleni Michaels: Absolutely no excuse for animal cruelty. Thursday, 26 July 2012 at 10:10am

Finally a govt that did something to protect innocent animals from being cruelly killed.  Its been a long time coming for the turtles and dugongs.  There is absolutely no excuse for cruelty to animals.  

This is great news, thanks to Animals Australia and everyone envolved in this campaign.

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Katie: Hooray Col & Bob Wednesday, 18 July 2012 at 12:38pm

My immense gratitude to Colin Riddell & Bob Irwin and all those involved who without their tireless and unrelenting efforts to put an end to this cruel massacre. Don't you love the ignorant foul language from the indigenous hunters on Green Island.  Good on ya Col & Bob.

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Rob Barrett: Reality Wednesday, 18 July 2012 at 6:40am

The unregulated slaughter of marine mammals should be a thing relugated to history books, it is not needed in the 21st Century. The claims of tradition and culture are just weak excuses for free food and a quick profit

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Jax: About Time Wednesday, 4 July 2012 at 6:47pm

Tears of joy at this decision...I agree whole heartedly  that tradition is no exuse for cruelty by anyone anywhere anytime! Thank you to all Animal Australia supporters and workers on the front line who are making a difference  and providing a voice for animals everywhere!

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Pauline Cameron: Thank you from all of us Tuesday, 3 July 2012 at 5:05pm

Thank you Animals Australia and all the courageous people who helped stop this atrocity happening to our wildlife.

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Bev Woodburn: Animal suffering is wrong. Tuesday, 3 July 2012 at 3:21pm

No living creatures on earth deserves to die in such horrific cruelty.
The poor turtles and the dugongs. What the hell can they do to protect themselves from the so called civilised human being? It takes the voice of the people to speak for them and all of our other innocent animals that suffer such cruelty. They can,t speak for themselves so they need us.
It,s a tradition you say! Traditions can be changed and we can all  start thinking of the well being of all animals. Ban the killings of these beautiful creatures. I believe in KARMA.

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Lucy Johnson: How horrible! Sunday, 27 May 2012 at 10:35am

I can't believe that people can do this and not feel guilty-thank you, animals australia for doing something about it, and government employees, thank you for thinking about turtles when it comes to voting on the issue.

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willeke: outrageous Thursday, 26 April 2012 at 4:29pm

since when did tradition allow immense cruelty,i always thought that the indiginous people respected mother Earth and all the living creatures who are living on it?/

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Ivan Hockings: Is there another agenda? Friday, 6 April 2012 at 10:27pm

Something that concerns me is the way the dugong and turtle supporters had originallly begun their campaign by demanding a ban on traditional hunting. They felt that laws to do with wildlife must apply for all Australians with no exceptions. But they watered down their campaign somewhat in Queensland when they realized the LNP was only going to help prevent the cruelty and had no power to stop traditional hunting. The power to change laws to do with traditional hunting can only be done at a Federal Government level. So on rolled the State election and the LNP swept in with a promise to stop the cruelty. Now with the Federal election in thier sites, the dugong/turtle movement quickly shifted up a gear and are once again campaigning for a "moratorium". Yet reading messages by the leaders of the movement on facebook and elsewhere I can't help notice that many of the posts are in fact calling for a "total ban". It is not hard therefore to see that the ultimate agenda of these people is to stop traditional hunting of wildlife forever. They will not be satisfied with mere moratoriums, and in any case, if peer-reviewed scientific data supports a continuation of hunting, we can be certain they will reject it out of hand. Only a total ban will appease them. The Federal Government should be aware that an extreme Animal Rights agenda is actually the guiding force behind the anti-traditional hunting movement, despite occasional assurances to the contrary. I am in favour of ending the cruelty and for imposing limits, but as for a "total ban" I do not see that this is a wise move. It would also smack of hypocrisy, because it will mean that "if all people are equal under the law" then white people must also give up all forms of hunting as well, including the hunting of feral pigs, even cane toads, and the catching of fish. Self-righteous imposition is seldom wise.

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Ziggy: Absolutley sickening. Wednesday, 4 April 2012 at 10:25pm

Heartless bastards. I am ashamed that those men are the same species as me.

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J. Tan: Killing the turtle in a barbaric and inhumane way is totally unacceptable Tuesday, 3 April 2012 at 10:58pm

Killing the turtle in a barbaric and inhumane way is totally unacceptable.  KARMA will enable those hunters responsible to suffer one day just as those poor turtles endured their painful death.

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Stefanie Hoefgen: Stop slaughtering sea turtles! Saturday, 31 March 2012 at 12:04pm

We are all aware of the fact that animals have feelings just as humans have.
How can a tradition be of more value than a life?? On top of that the life of turtles and other sea creatures are taken away in a brutal manner which is absolutely unnecessary!!
Please help stop this cruel trade!

Best regards,
Stefanie Hoefgen and Boyan Penev

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