By Anne-Marie Emerson
Rogue possum hunters have endangered lives by illegally placing deadly poison on a popular walking track in the Whanganui National Park.
The Department of Conservation [DoC] closed the Atene Skyline Track indefinitely on Tuesday, after a member of the public reported seeing large quantities of cyanide bait and dead
possums in the middle of the track.
The Atene Skyline Track provides one of the few places the public can access the Whanganui National Park, and is popular with trampers.
Rod Smillie, DoC Wanganui's biodiversity threats manager, said DoC staff investigated and found bait all along the track, from the Atene Viewpoint onwards.
About 100 possum carcasses were also found some skinned but most unskinned.
Mr Smillie said the cyanide was potentially lethal.
"If you ingest cyanide the size of a pea it's enough to kill a human adult. Even inhaling the gas can make you feel pretty ill."
Mr Smillie said it was unlikely the possum hunters had deliberately intended to cause trouble.
"But this was a reckless, lazy act which endangered the public. This is DoC land so they needed our consent and the consent of the medical officer of health to use cyanide."
"They should also have put warning signs up."
The trade in possum skins is very strong at the moment, with 1kg of fur selling for $105.
Mr Smillie said it was unusual for cyanide to be left in such a public place.
"I've encountered it once up at Mt Taranaki but not in the Whanganui region."
He said the police were notified immediately and were investigating.
Cyanide is classified as a controlled substance. Anyone obtaining, transporting or using it must be registered with ERMA and hold a Controlled Substance Licence.
Reckless or negligent use of a controlled substance can incur a fine of up to $500,000.
The track to the Atene Viewpoint is still open, but access is forbidden beyond the viewpoint.
Mr Smillie said he doesn't know how long the track will be closed.
"We have removed as much of the bait as we can, but there may be more up there. We need at least 100mm of rain to neutralise the bait until that happens we can't consider opening the track."
* Anyone with information on the illegal cyanide is urged to contact Wanganui police on (06) 349 0600.
