A Game Animal Council due to be launched tomorrow will benefit trophy hunters but harm native flora and fauna, Forest and Bird says. The New Zealand Game Animal Council Establishment Committee recommended last June that a body be created to directly manage deer, thar, chamois and pigs on public conservation land. ``Butit was clear from the meetings and recommendations of the committee that it wanted a Game Animal Council that would be run for the benefit of trophy hunters and would take away many of the Department of Conservation's (DOC) powers,'' Forest and Bird advocacy manager Kevin Hackwell said today. ``Hunters play a valuable role in controlling the numbers of these introduced animals. ``But it is better for conservationists, hunters and other interested groups to work together through DOC, rather than handing over power to a group representing just the elite trophy hunters, many from overseas. ``At a time when the Government is talking about slashing non-essential spending, it is inconsistent for public money to be spent on setting up an elite body to take over functions from an existing organisation better equipped for the task.'' Mr Hackwell said the council would be incompatible with conservation laws and international commitments to protect native plants and animals. New Zealand Deerstalkers Association President Alec McIver said the council was likely to charge ``ordinary'' hunters for access to conservation land.
