The use of 1080 for the control of our feral noxious pests has been a controversial but successful way of eliminating our TB reinfection from the wild, and saving our native vegetation from deer and opposums.
However most would agree that any methods that don't use spreading of large amounts of chemicals onto our vegetaion, and achieve similar results should be looked at.
This trial using an orally ingested TB vaccine could prove the answer to all the hopes of those opposed to 1080 use, and keep bovine TB under control.
Agriculture and enviromental interests will await the results of these tests with interest.
The use of 1080 poison could be reduced or replaced depending on the results of a three-year research project in the Clarence Reserve and Muzzle Station in the Kaikoura Ranges, Landcare Research says. The Animal Health Board uses 1080, dropped both by hand and aerially, to poison possums as part of bovine tuberculosis (TB) eradication. Its use has been controversial with some environmentalists, farmers and hunters because of fears that it kills not only possums, but other wildlife reports The Marlborough Times.
Landcare Research spokesman Tom Fraser said the research, expected to begin next month, would determine whether 1080 could be reduced or replaced by using the TB vaccine BCG. "The BCG is in a form that can be dropped by aircraft and, if effective, has the potential to be an alternative way of quickly breaking the TB cycle in possum.
"At the same time, researchers will continue to refine a new way of aerial sowing of 1080 bait in clusters, which has potential to further reduce the amount of poison needed yet still maintain the same high level of effectiveness." If shown to be feasible and affordable, the research would provide the board with a back-up tool for eradicating TB, Mr Fraser said. The trial will involve eight study blocks, each covering about 1000 hectares, and four experimental treatments – doing nothing, applying 1080 only, applying BCG only, and applying 1080 and BCG.
"The results of the trial will be measured by looking at the differences between areas in the amount of TB in possums and also in pigs, which, as scavengers, are very good at detecting TB in possums," Mr Fraser said. Major factors slowing TB eradication were the high cost of possum control but also constraints on the use of aerial 1080 poisoning, Mr Fraser said. Aerial poisoning was often the only affordable means of control for large, remote areas.
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