Well, just when you thought reality couldn't be perverted any more:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news ... r-for-kids
My butterflying interests aside, I find it incredulous that a government body in one of the world's top 30 developed countries could offer financial inducements for children to go out and slaughter wildlife.
God knows, kids these days (mainly as a result of video games) are desensitised to killing far, far more than is healthy, and the worrying aspect is that if they see their supposed role models actually advocating it sufficiently enthusiastically in the REAL WORLD to the point where they're prepared to effectively EMPLOY them to indulge in such slaughter as a LEISURE pastime, then one can only conclude that if, when these kids become adults several years down the line, the incidence of violent crime rises significantly, then society as a whole will have to reflect on the wholly irresponsible messages sent out when these people were infinitely more impressionable.
I know Large Whites can be a pest, but these measures are stoking up potentially serious problems for the future.
Shameful.
PS - Guy, as ever, is spot on in his analysis. If kids KNOW they can make easy money out of killing defenceless insects, then the last thing they're going to do is kill the goose that laid the golden egg.
There's bound to be some who actually start BREEDING Large Whites and selling the newly emerged adults either to their friends for a cut of the bounty, or merely killing these creatures themselves to claim the full amount.
Christ, a savvy child with an interest in rearing could make thousands here! WTF are these government officials doing? They actually risk making the situation WORSE, and if that will indeed be the case, then they've only themselves to blame for their folly.
...but 'bite your head off' never, I respect your views, they appear well considered.
