Source: Radio New Zealand
Drones allowed teams to access remote areas, detect possum populations and pinpoint exactly where people needed to be deployed, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. Supplied
The government is trialling new technology to better control possum populations as part of its push to eradicate bovine tuberculosis.
The disease in cattle and deer herds is spread mainly by possums and can cause serious production losses and animal welfare issues.
Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard said drone and thermal imaging technology was being trialled in central Otago by disease eradication agency OSPRI to detect possums in rugged, hard-to reach terrain.
“New Zealand farmers and taxpayers have invested millions of dollars in the control, and eventual eradication of this disease, but we must finish the job, it all comes down to controlling and monitoring possum numbers. This new technology is expected to give a major boost to this work,” he said.
Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard. RNZ / Mark Papalii
“This drone technology represents a real step-change in how we approach possum control in some of New Zealand’s most challenging terrain.”
Hoggard said the Central Otago trial site was selected because it was considered a hot spot for TB eradication, and was known to have a higher-than-average possum population.
Drones allowed teams to access remote areas, detect possum populations and pinpoint exactly where people needed to be deployed, he said.
“To eradicate bovine TB, we have to eradicate enough of the possums for the disease to be unable to exist in a possum population.
“Many farmers today may not remember the terrible situation that existed back in the late 70’s through to the early 90’s where thousands of herds had TB infections, I remember as a child the anguish and cost this caused my parents whenever an infected cow was found in our herd,” he said.
“We only need to look across to the UK and Ireland nowadays to see how much this matters, particularly the mental strain this disease can cause on farmers. That’s why it’s so important that we finish the job.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
