A photo of hunters in front of 140 dead pademelons has sparked outrage on social media and led to renewed calls for improved animal protection laws in Tasmania.
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Animal Justice Party Tasmania convenor Tim Westcott circulated the photo, which was posted by members of a hunting group alongside a caption which said "good morning down the West Tamar...140 on the ground".
Mr Westcott said his party accepted the hunters had not acted unlawfully.
"We do, however, consider the hunting of native wildlife, particularly in such large numbers, to be out of line with community expectations," Mr Westcott said.
"The AJP is calling on the Tasmanian Government to legislate an end to the hunting of native wildlife."
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Enforcement of existing laws needed to be "ramped up", Mr Westcott suggested.
"This could include, but is not limited to, improved surveillance of hunters...and reducing the number of permits issued," he said.
RSPCA Tasmania chief executive Jan Davis said the organisation opposed recreational hunting and wanted relevant laws reviewed to ensure modern community attitudes were reflected.
"Although some hunters may have the skills, knowledge and motivation to minimise the suffering of their prey, many do not and it is inevitable that some animals will endure pain and distress," Ms Davis said.
"With some hunting activities and practices the potential for significant suffering is extremely high, for example where animals are injured but are not retrieved, where dogs are used and are not controlled properly, where hunters lack technical skill, where killing methods do not cause rapid death or where dependent young are left abandoned.
"Because current regulations and enforcement regimes do not prevent these things from occurring, they are an inescapable consequence of recreational hunting activities."
A government spokesperson said crop protection permits were managed by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment. The spokesperson said inquiries into the image posted on social media were being carried out.