Chinese businessman invites tourists to his 'hunting lodge' to shoot Australian wildlife with powerful rifles and shotguns for $1,000
VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA: A luxury hunting lodge, owned by wealthy Chinese businessman Tom Zhou, in Australia, has reportedly been inviting tourists to use weapons to hunt and kill native wildlife, including wombats, sparking public outrage across the country. Protesters are increasingly calling for the rural property in the Murrindindi Shire, two hours north-east of Melbourne to be shut down.
A website for the lodge, translated from Mandarin, invites visitors to "experience a different life in Australia" and promises an "unforgettable hunt" by offering two-day packages starting from $1000 per person. The packages reportedly include one night's accommodation and a "high-end" business car from Melbourne, according to the Daily Mail.
The website reads: "When we come to Australia, we should experience life that we can't experience in China."The first thing that should be felt in Australia is to be a wilderness hunter in the mountains of Australia."
The Chinese website also adds that it provides hunting opportunities to novices as they can use "all kinds of hunting weapons, including double-barrell shotguns, small calibre rifles, and large calibre sniper rifles. With professional guidance, you will be a great shooter! Hares, fox, wombats, wild ducks, red deer, sambars (deer)… a variety of wild animals to spend a happy holiday with you."
Victoria Police, on Wednesday, confirmed it was aware of reports of illegal hunting at a property in Murrindindi. A spokesperson for the department said that officials will investigate "to determine whether any crimes have been committed."
Meanwhile, residents living near the lodge have expressed concerns about inexperienced hunters using deadly weapons close to their properties.
One neighbor, while talking to the outlet, said: "These tourists are coming in as gun-toting John Waynes." Others claimed that their horses and cattle have been "spooked" by the regular noise of gunfire coming from the property.
After the news of possible illegal hunting caught limelight, Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick called on the government of Victoria to intervene and shut down the hunting lodge.
Meddick, in a statement, said: "Regional Victoria has a smorgasbord of nature-based tourism activities. Inflicting cruelty onto Australian wildlife should not be one of them. Not only are animals being severely injured and suffering enormously before being killed, powerful guns being operated by inexperienced tourists pose a huge risk to local community members and their families."