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Kalehe on Abercrombie signing axis deer bill

MEDIA RELEASE

State Sen. Gilbert Kahele has been informed by the Abercrombie Administration that the governor signed SB3001 (Relating To Wildlife) into law Thursday, June 21 in the Governorʻs Ceremonial Room at the Hawaii State Capitol.

Kahele introduced SB3001 (Relating to Wildlife) during the 2012 legislative session to address the problem of the invasive axis deer on Hawaii Island.

The bill, when signed into law, will prohibit a person to intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly transfer, transport, and release after transport through interisland movement any live wild or feral deer unless permitted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources or other state department.

It will also establish penalties and fines for individuals that violate the law.

Kahele, vice-chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, has been a strong proponent of the swift removal of invasive axis deer on Hawaii Island. The axis deer, introduced to the Hawaiian Islandʻs in 1868, has been devastating to the islands of Molokai and Maui and their agricultural and tourist industries.

“I am extremely pleased that the governor has decided to sign this important peice of legislation into law. Axis deer have been devastating to our precious environment and our agricultural industry,” he said.

“This law will send a clear message to those that attempt to transport the axis deer to Hawaii island that this Administration, the Legislature and the residents of our state will not tolerate this conduct,” Kahele said. “Just this past April the Department of Land and Natural Resources recorded the first official kill of an axis deer in KaÊ»u. I applaud this effort and and will continue my mission to completley eradicate the axis deer from Hawaii Island. This law reaffirms that message.”

One Response to “Kalehe on Abercrombie signing axis deer bill”

  1. waimeajim says:

    Since these are invasive species, and Hawaii is the endangered species capital of the world, shouldn’t we be planning eradication hunts, instead of trying to limit the population on each island?
    We did that for miconia, yet animals have a different priority?
    Either we protect the endangered species, or forget about them, and let them die off.
    Poorly developed policies equal poorly developed results for all species.

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