At Hakalau refuge, hunter pressure overrides conservationists' concerns

Author:

n/a

Title:

At Hakalau refuge, hunter pressure overrides conservationists' concerns

Periodical:

Environment Hawaii

Year:

1997

Volume:

8

Pages:

1, 3-11

Subject:

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge Feral swine ecology Hawaii Island Feral ungulates Hunting

Summary:

This document describes how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) made public hunting a priority in an effort to eradicate feral pigs from the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge on the eastern slope of Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaii. Many believed that the hunting desires of this outspoken group were given a higher priority than was the vital needs of the dwindling populations of birds whose habitat was in the Hakalau forest in spite of the fact that the USFWS' duty was to protect the forest birds. It describes how a small but influential group of hunters were given priority over the recommendations of biologists, conservationists, and others who were experienced in feral ungulate management and how after five years of hunting, the pig populations in the hunting areas were either as high, if not higher, than it was in earlier years.

Label:

Ecology - Conservation

Date:

1997

Collection:

Periodicals