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10,000 rabbits shot in New Zealand to celebrate Easter hunt

Unknown 2:08 AM $10000 , celebrate , Easter , Hunt , rabbits , shot , Zealand

<ul><li style="text-align: justify;">New Zealand celebrates Easter hunt through annual rabbit-shooting event</li> <li style="text-align: justify;">It was launched 25 years ago in the Central Otago district</li> <li style="text-align: justify;">The event was conceptualized as one way of getting rid of the rabbits which are regarded as farmers’ problem</li> </ul>Easter celebration in New Zealand is far different than any popular Lenten event when hunting for chocolate eggs is widely a tradition. Why? It is because bunnies serve as highlights at an annual rabbit-shooting event in one district. Regarded as pests, 10,000 rabbits were shot by more than 300 hunters in 27 participating teams during the 24-hour “bunny hunt”, which kicked off on Good Friday. As mentioned in an article published by <a href="http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/560447/news/world/10-000-rabbits-shot-in-new-zealand-easter-hunt">GMA News Online</a>, event organizer Eugene Ferreira explained that the event was launched 25 years ago in the Central Otago district. Ferriera said the event was conceptualized to get rid of the rabbits which are regarded as ‘big problem’ for farmers as they cause erosion and eat crops specifically carrots and cauliflowers. Ferriera, 49, president of the Alexandra Lions Club, said the event had been running annually for 25 years in the Central Otago district, and was organised after rabbits – an introduced species — developed immunity to poison. “It’s a big fun event — hunters are out and awake all night,” Ferriera was quoted saying. Meanwhile, Ferriera disclosed that during the previous years, the event was highly protested by animal rights activists. But for this year, the event organizer noted there has been no complain coming from the group. However, Hans Kriek, executive director of animal rights organisation SAFE, cleared that his group strongly oppose the hunt as he added that the activity is inhumane. “It’s a bunch of amateurs just going out for a bit of a thrill kill,” he stressed. On the other hand, Ferriera said animal activists do not understand the extent of problem which the rabbits caused in the area which makes them less concerned on the reason why the event is annually held. For this year, the winning team, “Down South”, shot 889 rabbits, beating “Hopper Stoppers” with 755. Since its launching, the largest ever Easter total was 30,000. <a href="http://kickerdaily.com/10000-rabbits-shot-new-zealand-to-celebrate-easter-hunt/" rel="nofollow">Kicker Daily News</a>

New Zealand celebrates Easter hunt through annual rabbit-shooting event It was launched 25 years ago in the Central Otago district The event...