1080 alternative
There’s good news on the 1080 controversy. A more humane alternative to the poison is being trialled by the Australasian Invasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre.
The new poison, called PAPP (para aminopropiophenone), renders animals unconscious within 30 minutes and dead within two hours. If animals must be poisoned, at least they won’t suffer for hours.
Research is showing that a lethal dose for a rat and a bird is 30 times that needed to kill a cat. Trials are also showing native marsupials are far less susceptible to PAPP than feral meat eaters.
Tests done so far have shown dogs that have ingested a sub-lethal dose have recovered without any obvious health effects. The poor dogs are now in loving homes and their progress will be monitored. More tests still need to be done but so far things look promising.