GUNNS has killed hundreds of thousands of native mammals using carrots poisoned with Compound 1080, a lethal super-toxin listed as a biological weapon by both the Canadian and US governments. GUNNS CEO John Gay has publicly stated that it is okay that his company kills protected species because “there’s too many of them” Protected animals routinely killed by GUNNS include Tasmanian wombats and ring-tailed possums.
Compound 1080
GUNNS uses 1080 poison to kill any animals that might possibly browse on the seedlings established in place of the cleared forests. With the recent ending of 1080 poisoning on public land, GUNNS has become the biggest single user of 1080 poison in Tasmania. Furthermore, habitat for Tasmania’s wildlife is permanently destroyed when old growth forests are replaced by short-rotation tree-crops.
Species that need the holes and hollows that form in old trees are permanently displaced. This affects the pygmy possum, sugar glider, swift parrot, bats and owls. The wedge-tailed eagle – now listed as endangered – requires large trees that tower over the rest of the canopy for its nests. Although nesting trees are usually protected, the development of new nesting sites is stymied by the clearing of the rest of the forest.
Compound 1080 (sodium monofluoroacetate), a super-toxin with no known antidote, was first developed by Nazi military chemists for biological warfare during World War II. The FBI and Air Force as well as the Canadian Security Intelligence Service have publicly listed Compound 1080 as a chemical agent terrorists could use to poison water supplies. A new CIA report includes photographic evidence that Compound 1080 was recently recovered by coalition forces in Iraq. Because of its danger to humans, Compound 1080 has been banned in Brazil since 1982. One teaspoon of the tasteless, odorless white power is enough to kill 100 people.
