New Zealand's possum war: 'barbaric' drowning of babies at school fair sparks outcry

Rights group says widespread practice to kill pest species is desensitising children to acts of violence

An animal rights group is calling for an end to New Zealand's "barbaric" war on possums after joeys were drowned in a bucket of water at a school fundraiser.

It said children were becoming desensitised to violence as a result of the method of killing an animal that is considered a pest in New Zealand. "It was clearly inhumane, it was appalling that children were witnessing this violence," said Jasmijn de Boo, chief executive of animal rights group Safe.