For Immediate Release

Minister Ends Controversial Cormorant Cull at
Presqu'ile Provincial Park

Ministry fails to reach quota of 5,500 dead cormorants!

June 7, 2005: Activists from a coalition of animal protection organizations are celebrating after the Minister of Natural Resources announced an end to the controversial killing of cormorants on High Bluff Island at Presqu'ile Provincial Park. The coalition thanks the Minister for ending the cull so that the young cormorant chicks would not be abandoned when the adult birds were shot.

Thankfully the Minister has called off the cull because there are hatched young in the nests. Ending the cull will prevent the orphaning of the chicks, who would have died from dehydration, starvation or exposure." said Melissa Ryall, Campaigner for Zoocheck. We don't have the final count for the number of cormorants killed this year, but we believe our actions have saved close to 3,500 birds.

"We've run a spectacular operation," said Julie Woodyer, Campaigns Director of Zoocheck Canada. We were in our boats at High Bluff Island for 15 hours a day documenting Ministry actions. It was pretty grim watching the birds shot on the few days when they were culling.We witnessed mass chaos during the shooting, with dead and dying birds in their nests, on the shore and in the water. We also saw other birds who were injured who either escaped the island or were collected by Ministry staff at the end of the day.

"The coalition vows to continue the fight to stop the Ministry' persecution of cormorants in Ontario. We are pleased that the Ministry decided to end the cull to protect the babies," said AnnaMaria Valastro, Campaigner, Peaceful Parks Coalition. The Ministry could implement a cull again next year and we will be ready to fight it as well.

Spokespersons for Animal Alliance of Canada, Animal Protection Institute, Canadians for Snow Geese, Earthroots, Environment Voters, Peaceful Parks Coalition and Zoocheck Canada vow to continue the fight to protect cormorants from the very body who should be protecting them – the Ministry of Natural Resources. In a letter to the Minister today the coalition charges the Ministry with a province-wide attack on cormorant populations. The groups assert that such a planned onslaught against a native species is unprecedented since the 19th Century and vow to fight until the Ministry decides to protect cormorants as they are mandated to do.

For further information please call Julie Woodyer Zoocheck at 416-451-5976 (cell), AnnaMaria Valastro, Peaceful Parks Coalition at 416-537-3121, Barry MacKay, Animal Protection Institute at 905-472-9731 or Liz White at Animal Alliance 416-462-9541.