Kangaroo newsletter Archives3Kangamail Archives 3 Kangamail 14.10.04
THE new Queensland Kangaroo Kill Program has been released for Public Comment.
Copies are available at
http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/about_the_epa/public_consultation#macropod Submissions are welcome for four weeks and will not be accepted after the close of business on Wednesday 3 November 2004. For enquiries please telephone (07) 3225 2667. Written submissions should be sent to: Macropod Conservation Plan Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service PO Box 155 Brisbane Albert Street, QLD, 4002. Electronic submissions should be e-mailed to: macropod.cp@epa.qld.gov.au ******************************************** Queensland kangaroo harvesters have welcomed the State Government's draft kangaroo conservation plan. The five-year plan, which was due for renewal, is open for comment until November 3. It features tightened controls to ensure harvests of the red and eastern grey kangaroos, and the wallaroo remain within Australian Government quotas. Tom Garratt from the Queensland Macropod and Wildgame Harvesters Association says the legislation takes the industry into the future. "The new legislation brings us into the future and I think the transfer of this data allows us to have figures that are up-to-date," he said. "So it shows all those people that are, perhaps, concerned that the industry isn't sustainable, that we've taken measures to ensure that all the figures...we gather are available as they're gathered so we have no problems with over-harvesting and things like that as we look towards the future. "After reading it I'm fairly happy." *ABC ******************************************** At Bathurst car races 2004 driver Jim Richards ploughed at high speed into an unsuspecting roo which jumped on to the track. Well positioned in seventh place two-thirds of the way through the race, Richards had a lucky escape from injury after his Holden hit the large kangaroo at an estimated 190kmh, killing it instantly and seriously damaging his car. But Richards, 57, was |uninjured and managed to |keep driving the car back to the pits. It was eventually repaired with he and son Steven returning to finish 21st, virtually ending Richards juniors V8 Supercar championship hopes. “Weve seen roos on the track before but weve never hit one,” Jim Richards said. “When they jump out in front of you, theres not much you can do. “You dont have too much time to think about things like that out there, you just keep going.” While kangaroos, a dog and even a horse have wandered on to the Mt Panorama road circuit during previous races, it was the first time an animal had been hit. “I saw the dead wildlife all right it was sitting on the track for the last 60 laps reminding us what had happened. I couldn't believe it,” race winner Murphy said of the kangaroos’ remains littering the track. * ******************************************** Pastoralists in the Goldfields and Nullarbor region facing increased grazing pressure from western grey kangaroos want the regional commercial kangaroo quota set by CALM to be increased. Peter Brown from Arubiddy station, east of Balladonia said Western grey kangaroo populations in the western Nullabor were greatly underestimated by the conventional fixed wing aerial surveys used by CALM to determine the commercial quota. "We want a practical quota that will allow us to shoot kangaroos that we don't have to waste-currently once we reach our allocated quota," Mr Brown said. "We are not allowed to shoot kangaroos for commercial purposes but we are allowed to shoot them and let them rot which just doesn't make sense. "For the APB aerial spring baiting program out here we had to source meat from Queensland because WA processors couldn't supply the meat we needed due to the fact that the WA quota had already been met. "Kangaroos are eating out the country and having a major impact on feed resources and I believe that pastoralists should be able to capitalise on them as a resource and at least sell them for pet meat or human consumption as opposed to letting them rot which is not only wasteful but causes blowfly problems." He estimated there was about 6000-7000 Western grey kangaroos in one area alone inside electric fencing on Rawlinna station. Mr Brown said if the southern aerial survey population monitoring zone set by CALM was altered to cover the land either side of the Eyre Highway it would give a more realistic indication as to the extent of Western greys that were the dominant species in the area. "The management plan for grey kangaroos has been in place for two years and I believe that because the quotas have been filled so quickly, the number estimates are not right," he said. "By changing slightly the survey area, I believe that the numbers would more accurately reflect the actual number of grey roos in the area." On June 30 CALM ordered the commercial harvesting of grey kangaroos east and north of the state barrier fence to be stopped to prevent the quota being exceeded. Kangaroo Advisory Committee of WA chairman Gordon Wyre said CALM had carried out additional surveys this year. He said CALM would consider the possibility of making changes to the boundary in the Nullabor region. "The Commonwealth sets the correction factors and we believe that the number of grey kangaroos has been underestimated and we would like to have a larger quota but we have to operate within the set rules," he said. Mr Wyre said that it was likely that further surveys would prove the western grey population was higher than it was thought to be in the past, justifying a higher quota. "We have to demonstrate to the Commonwealth that the kangaroos are not threatened in any way by changes in commercial markets for them," Mr Wyre said. "The quota system was developed so if we have a scenario where prices for kangaroo increased substantially then there would be the necessary controls in place so western grey kangaroo populations would not be severely threatened." "The harvesting of western grey kangaroos must be monitored closely because the species are annual breeders and historically the commercial industry has not targeted them. "But this situation has changed in the last five years." Pastoralists also suggested commercial damage tags inside of pastoral leases, on top of the normal commercial quota, would eliminate the need for kangaroos that were a menace to be shot and left to rot. Mr Wyre said off quota tags were used in some other states and the initiative was being considered by CALM. * Media Item Ed. Comment. In WA once they reach the quota, they have an open season, and keep shooting them anyway, but leave them lie on the ground. In 2003 they overshot the quota by 15000 western greys, so they stopped the commercial kill in early December, but the farmers were told they could keep shooting them but they couldn’t be sold. Disgraceful. ******************************************** Record numbers of kangaroos and wallabies are being hurt and killed on roads in the suburbs of southeast Queensland. Dry conditions and residential development have seen the animals feed from gardens and grass at the sides of roads. (same as around here - lots dead by the side of roads, more than usual anyway) More than 50 kangaroos and wallabies have been hit by cars and reported to the RSPCA (did you see the British RSPCA is considering dumping the queen as their head, due to her support of fox hunting! I wonder where they'll get funding from if they do - Queenie wont like that & she'll just withdraw it) in the greater Brisbane area in the past two weeks. Many others are reported to wildlife groups or left to die. RSPCA wildlife co-ordinator Janet Gamble said the problem was traditionally a regional one, but kangaroos were now regularly injured and killed in suburbs including Browns Plains, Marsden and Greenbank, south of Brisbane; Goodna, Camira, Sumner Park, Wacol and Darra, to the city's west; and on the Gold and Sunshine coasts. "It's a big problem in the north and west of the state, but motorists have to realise they don't have to be driving out in the country to hit a kangaroo on the road." The city is encroaching more and more on their natural habitat and with the drought they do seem to travel more to find food. "The animals come in overnight into the suburbs, when there isn't much traffic around and it's nice and quiet, to graze on nature strips. "All of a sudden the suburb wakes up and they are stuck. They panic and tear off on to the roads." Ms Gamble urged motorists to slow down and take care, especially at dusk and dawn. * ******************************************** As we mentioned in the last Kangamail, NSW has announced it’s new Kangaroo Advisory Committee. Members of the new NSW Kangaroo Advisory Committee are Dr Tony English, Aust. Veterinary Assn (Support Kill) Steven Coleman, RSPCA (Supported Googong Dam Kill) Phil Cameron, Dubbo Field Nats. (Support Kill) Humane Society, (Do not support Kill) Rosemary Barnes, NSW Farmers (Support Kill) Sandy Bright, Pastoralists Assn (Support Kill) Marie Russel, Rural Lands Protection (Support Kill) Game Meats Assn, (Support Kill) Kangaroo Industries Assn, (Support Kill) Vacant, Professional Shooters Organisation, appropriately named (Support Kill) Les Trindell, NSW Aborigonal Land Council (Don’t Know, but Probably Support Kill) Geoff Woods, NSW Agriculture (Support Kill) Nicole Payne, Dept Environment (Support Kill) They have a website, www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Kangaroo+management+program At the moment it’s out of date, which is fairly usual for government web sites. To contact the Kangaroo Kill Program Manager, contact Nicole Payne, nicole.payne@npws.nsw.gov.au * ******************************************** We still haven’t had a Judgement handed down from our Appeal against the Qld, SA, and WA Kangaroo Management Plans. * The immediate implications of the Federal Election are that it will be business as usual, regardless of the environmental cost. Just prior to the Elections we saw a few green gestures handed out by the Howard government. Nothing important, like ratification of the Kyoto protocol, or permanent protection of the old growth forests. So from our point of view, it's likely that the environment and wildlife particularly, will probably cop a flogging for the next 3 years. We would expect that the Crocodile Trophy Hunting proposal, which obviously was deliberately delayed until after the Elections, will now be approved. We would expect that a proposed pulp paper mill would be approved for Tasmania to take the rest of the old growth forests. We would expect that funding for Endangered Species would be minimised or abandonded. We would expect Telstra to be sold off, and some of the money given to farmers under the guise of Landcare and "similar" projects. We would expect that the use of 1080 poison (currently under review by a Federal Authority) will be still allowed to be widely used by farmers. We would expect that the Kangaroo Kill will escalate until the kangaroos are all but gone. One of the side-effects that will also have grave implications is the loss of people like Senator John Faulkner, who has stood down as leader of the Senate. Faulkner was a good advocate for saving the forests, and losing him is a big tragedy. He was the first good one to go, and more will probably follow. We can only hope the Labor Party will appoint a decent Shadow Environment Spokesperson (Kelvin Thompson was useless). * ******************************************** Kangamail 4/10/04 On Thursday the 30th September I attended the Queensland Macropod Advisory Committee, (MMAC) which is a Committee set up to advise the relevant Minister on the management of the commercial Industry. Every three years the Committee is closed, and a new Committee is formed. I have sat on the MMAC for around 9 years. This was the first meeting of a new Committee and there was only one new member appointed. This was Ms Pru Barka, a lady who said she loves kangaroos, but someone has to kill them. Pru made headlines in the media last year when she said graziers should be paid for the grass that kangaroos eat. The attendance list is below. ATTENDANCE at Queensland MMAC Chair. Dr Helen Wallace Committee members Ms Leslie Shirreffs, Executive Director, Conservation Services Division Mr Lindsay Packer, Kangaroo Industries Association of Australia (Incorp) Mr Russell Schultz, Safe Food Ms Pru Barka, Agforce Queensland Mr Jock Sullivan, Agforce Queensland Mr Tom Garrett, Queensland Macropod and Wild Game Harvesters Association Inc. Mr Jeff Newton, Queensland Macropod and Wild Game Harvesters Association Inc. Dr Tony Pople, University of Queensland Mr Des Boyland, Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland Mr Pat O'Brien, Queensland Conservation Council Mr Cliff Dee, Kangaroo Industries Association of Australia (Incorp) Department officers in attendance Ms Sally Egan, Manager Macropod Program, QPWS Dr Simon Stirrat, Senior Conservation Officer, Conservation Services Division Mr Geoff Lundie-Jenkins, Coordinator Conservation Research, Conservation Services Unit Minutes Secretary. Mrs Lucy Evans, Administration Officer (Committees), Conservation Services Division. As one could imagine, this committee is all about killing kangaroos. However we do gather some interesting information from these sessions. Some of this info is below. 1. The shooter's representatives said twice that they never see Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) officers in the field. 2. Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland (WPSQ) said twice that the Society supported the commercial kangaroo kill, claiming it was well managed and sustainable. This was no surprise, the WPSQ representative used to be a Senior bureaucrat with QPWS until he retired 4 years ago. As a former Branch President of an active WPSQ Branch for many years, I know full well that the WPSQ Council operating in Brisbane has scant regard for the views of their Branches or Members views on issues. I suspect that some WPSQ members reading this who don't support the commercial kill and all its associated cruelty, may want to enter into some discussions with WPSQ Head Office. 3. One agenda item dealt with movement of kangaroo products across the Border into NSW. It appears that from time to time, NSW dealers can't get enough kangaroo carcasses in NSW, so they open a depot in Queensland and buy from Qld shooters, then ship the carcasses into NSW. They can do this legally, but the interesting thing is that they do periodically run out of kangaroos to shoot in Northern NSW. 4. Kangaroo shooting and dealing licenses will be increased to reflect rising admin. costs, but are not calculated at full cost recovery, another piece of evidence that we, the taxpayers, prop up this appalling Industry. 5. A new Queensland Kangaroo Management Plan will be issued shortly for public comment. The changes are made to reflect Federal Legislative requirements, and issues that were raised in the AAT Appeal recently. I will inform everyone when and where the Plan is posted, so those that wish to respond can do so. Note that we now have an RSPCA representative on the MMAC, as a direct result of the AAT Appeal. 6. According to Cliff Dee, an Industry representative, the kangaroo industry is over-capitalised, and the building of new kangaroo processing plant proposed in Western Queensland is unrealistic, and will fail if it proceeds. According to the two Industry representatives, the Industry is struggling. 7. 2003 to 2004 has seen ongoing declines in Queensland kangaroo populations, with generally a reduction in numbers throughout the State. The 2005 quotas will be based on these figures, taken during May, June and July, by helicopter survey. Population estimates are 2.7 million Reds, down 28%; Greys, 7.8 million, down 15%; 2.4 million Euros, up by 3%. 8. Quota calculations have been changed to reflect some areas where populations are low. In some zones red quotas are assessed at 15%, and 18% of the zone populations, rather than the usual 20%, and in some zones the grey quotas have been assessed at 10% or 14% rather that the usual 15%. 9. The Damage Mitigation Permit (DMP's) system will be changed to allow only 1% of a regional population to be killed. There will be (eventually) a requirement that DMP's will only be issued to shooters who have passed a rifle proficiency test. This will include recreational Permit shooters too. All kangaroos shot must be killed under the requirements of the Code of Practice. I have no idea how they will enforce this! 10. Heads will have to be left on all carcasses that are sold. 11. Last year in Queensland they overshot the Euro quota by 3% or about 7 to 10,000 animals. This was something we raised, it wasn't volunteered by QPWS. Apparently processes have been put in place to ensure it doesn't happen again. NSW and SA have probably also overshot, something we need to take up later. 12. For those involved in the ACT massacre at Googong Dam, some may remember that the ACT government was claiming kangaroo weights were down by 30% because of the drought. Industry representatives told the MMAC meeting that a 10% weight reduction was possible in a severe drought. 13. Infringements will have a penalty attached by Legislation, and audits can be undertaken of processing plants if a problem is noted. That's about it, the next MMAC meeting will be held in 6 months time. If anyone has any agenda items they would like to raise then, please email me. We still haven't heard anything from the AAT about a Judgement being handed down on our Appeal against the Qld, SA, and WA Kangaroo killing "Management Plans". Also please dont forget that comments to the "Code of Practice" review closes on the 15th October. Many of the groups have suggested to the Review that the "Code of Practice" should be renamed "A Shooters Guide to Killing Kangaroos" Cheers, Pat O'Brien ******************************************** Kangamail 24/9/04 The heroine of the Googong Dam kangaroo kill campaign Simone Gray will stand as a Free Range Canberra Party Candidate in the upcoming ACT elections. Political Party Free Range Canberra will run candidates in ACT election to be held 16 October 2004. It is the first time an animal welfare party has ever run in the ACT. Whilst the main aim of Free Range Canberra is to ban the battery cage, we are far from a single issue party. See our When you go to vote in the ACT you have the choice of either voting 1 for your first candidate (and then stopping), or voting in your order of choice for all candidates, (eg from 1 to 20). It is better if you vote for all the candidates and rank them in number order. This way your second, third and even fourth votes help to get those people elected. By just voting 1 your voting power is diminished and candidates you dislike may be elected. So it is suggested that anyone with a concern for animals Vote 1 Free Range Canberra.then for their next preffered candidate. Members of the ACT's Legislative Assembly are elected using a proportional representation electoral system known as the Hare-Clark system. Hare-Clark is a type of proportional representation system known as the single transferable vote method. Electors vote by showing preferences for individual candidates. To be elected, a candidate needs to receive a quota of votes. Each elector has a single vote, which can be transferred from candidate to candidate according to the preferences shown until all the vacancies are filled. In the ACT, the Hare-Clark system is used to elect 17 members in 3 multi-member electorates. The electorates of Brindabella and Ginninderra each elect 5 members, and the electorate of Molonglo elects 7 members. **************************************** Meanwhile the ACT Greens are still sitting on the fence over kangaroo killing. It’s also interesting that they did not come out with any opposition to the Googong kill when the protest was on, nor did they show up at the protest. Their Media Statement about the Googong massacre is below. Indications are that they are more interested in holding a seat in the government than they in protecting the kangaroos. Catchment management and the kangaroo cull "I remain concerned that the killing of 800 of the 3000 kangaroos in the Googong Foreshores Nature Reserve has come as surprise to the community and relevant stakeholders." " I am also disturbed that the ACT Government seems to have resisted any real engagement with concerned member of the community, and has not been to prepared to respond promptly to the offer by wildlife carers to look after viable orphaned joeys." "Environment ACT and ACTEW ought to have raised issues about risk to Canberra's water as soon as they were aware of it; and having come to the view that a reduction in Kangaroo numbers was necessary, ought to have put all the information on the table. Issues such as the reduced ground cover due to drought, the impact of kangaroo grazing on the habitat of endangered native animals, the risk of consequent erosion and other damage to water quality must be open to public discussion." "If the need for this action has only suddenly become apparent then I have to question the catchment management strategy. It may in part be an issue of resourcing for Environment ACT. But given the surrounding farms - which run sheep and cattle - are also a part of the Googong Dam catchment, it is not simply a matter for the ACT Government; it highlights the need for need for some wider structure such as an Upper Murrumbidgee River Catchment Authority to address the conflicting demands of urban and non urban land use." "The impact of culling on Kangaroo populations is not an exact science. While I accept that the Kangaroo Advisory Committee did important work developing kangaroo management policy in the mid 90s, this use of commercial operators is a new initiative which needed some prior discussion, and close monitoring." " I understand that the culling of kangaroos is absolutely opposed by many people. My position however is that I would support a cull where there a real ecological and public health justifications for it, when the kangaroo population affected is not endangered, and when it is done as humanely as possible." " In the short term then, it remains incumbent on the ACT Government to provide all the scientific information that supports its approach. In the longer term, Government has to look at catchment management and animal welfare in a more holistic manner" Ms Tucker said. ********************************************* Bridle Nailtail Wallaby’s need help: They are an endangered species Background Bridle Nailtail wallaby’s are on the endangered list, they were classed as extinct until 1970’s when a fencing contractor found a small colony on Taunton at Dingo Central Queensland. The Government purchased Taunton and the adjoining property Red Hill and made it a scientific National Park. The animals were taken by the Department of Parks and Wildlife and the Queensland University to outside Emerald where a research and breeding program was established in conjunction with BHP (now BMA) who fenced 46 hectares of coal mine site to be used for this purpose. Bridled Nailtail wallaby’s were put in breeding cages on the site and eventually some were released at “Avocet” nature reserve at Emerald. This is a cattle property, the owner agreed to become a release site. When the university had finished with its program the wallabies released from the cages into the grounds of the 46 hectares site where they have remained until recently. Qld University then just walked away. Current Situation There were two breeding site’s Eungella National Park breeding colony and the Gregory mine site breeding colony. Eungella was closed this month due to lack of funding and the one ranger has been removed from the park. The expectation is that volunteers will man the colony until such time as it rains and these animals can be released. Volunteers go out for a month at a time, where possible, to feed and water the animals, this site is about 900 Klm. return trip from Rockhampton. The Gregory coal mine BMA at Emerald are now starting to under mine the property on which the breeding of Nail Tailed Wallaby’s has been taking place. The University of Queensland finished their studies around 2002, and Parks and Wildlife were looking for volunteer to feed and maintain the colony. Tina Janssen has a property at Malborough and came into the program in November 2003 as Parks and Wildlife wanted these animals to be captured and released. Janelle Lowry from Parks and Wildlife went out with Tina to help in the capture and release. When the animals were trapped it was realised that they were starving, they were grossly under weight, sick and in need of intensive rehabilitation, they were covered in ticks and have extreme worm counts (2600 egg per gram). These animals are in desperate need of care. Tina took the bridled nailtails back to her property at Marlborough where they are treated for worms and parasites and deticked. To clean the ticks from one animal takes about 4 hours, as the tick load is absolutely horrific. Tina has about 80 animals in care, it is believed there is probably around 50 plus still needing to be captured and rehabilitated, she drives to Emerald to feed, water and trap these animal at least once a week. Marlborough to Emerald is a 700-kl round trip. Other volunteer carers drive to Emerald regularly to help as much as they can. Tina went to the Premier and the Minister for Environment in April looking for some assistance, which has not been forthcoming. Parks and Wildlife have no money to assist . The cost to Tina is $150 per week for food, lucence, steam flake barley and fruit, milk for the babies cost $298 per 20 kl bag this is around three months worth. There is also the cost of fencing and building pens to hold the animals. The sick animals have to be held in intensive pens until clean and then moved to clean pens for holding and rehabilitation, the pens where the sick animals are contained can not be used again because they are infected. Volunteers have been involved in the program to assist bridled Nailtail wallabies for around six years, journeying to the colony to feed and water them. The volunteers have paid the cost associated. Tina and the volunteers are desperately in need of assistance to ensure the survival of the Bridled Nailtail wallaby. They need money for food and for material to build pens, they need people to assist with removing the ticks and parasites. They need volunteers to help maintain the colony, machinery to build a small dam and water tanks to ensure the continuing supply of fresh water. These animals are listed as an endangered species, they are the responsibility of the nation and the cost of their care and rehabilitation should not be totally left to volunteers. It was decided at a recovery team meeting in September that the Bridled Nail Tail wallabies need to be genetically tested to ensure they are not inbreeding, the cost was suggested as around $4,000. We wonder why they need to do this testing, and what will it prove anyway? No-one knows who is going to pay for this testing. If the idea is to apply for funding, who is going to pay the cost of feeding these animals until they can be released? The Gregory Mine has given a donation of fencing materials to help in the relocation and have paid some medical bills and the cost of worming. This week a working bee of volunteers will be building enclosures to hold the rehabilitated Bridled Nail Tail and on the 27th there is to be 6 days (perhaps more) of intensive trapping to ensure all the wallaby’s are off the mine site, they will be taken back to Marlborough to be rehabilitated. The group need volunteers for Thursday 30th. September Friday 1st. October, and Saturday 2nd. October for volunteers to go to Malborough and assist with the cleaning of the animals. Drivers from Emerald to Malborough and back, (air conditioned if possible) People willing to help trap the Bridled Nail tail under supervision of EPA. People on the ground are needed in Marlborough to help maintain the area. Please Contact Tina Janssen or Peter Brooks on 49356076 or 0408 613914 if you can Help. Joy Davison-Lee 4939 5457 Tina Janssen 4935 6076 ******************************************** Kangamail 19/8/04 Roo cull worried scientists: FOI file By Rosslyn BeebyCanberra Times, Saturday, 18 September 2004 A government report "endorsed by the land managers, scientists and operational personnel at Environment ACT" had stated it was "better on both animal welfare and economic grounds to cull when the population is low (fewer animals are impacted) than to seek to do so when kangaroo density has recovered to a higher level". The FOI documents show a week after culling started, Environment ACT kangaroo expert Dr Murray Evans wrote to senior staff, "... as expressed previously, I still have reservations over the decision to go ahead with reducing roo numbers." The ACT Government claimed the cull was necessary to protect Canberra's water supply because overgrazing by kangaroos had reduced ground-cover at Googong to a level that presented a threat to water quality from run-off. However, Mr Fletcher argued ground-cover was "consistently lower where roos were shot" on neighbouring properties and low ground-cover at Googong was partly due to the impact of a severe storm in March 2003. He also suggested the cull could potentially increase bushfire risk. "Less roos equals more bushfire potential. At the moment (post 18 January 2003) the Googong roos might be a water supply insurance asset for Canberra and Queanbeyan," he wrote. Mr Fletcher, who is studying kangaroo populations at Googong for his doctoral thesis, repeatedly complained his advice was ignored and requests to be involved in decision-making regarding the cull were rejected. "An environment agency needs a culture that respects knowledge and learning, rather than a culture of expediency. One of the senior proponents of the roo shoot said to me that the shooting was needed for political reasons, and he did not care if it was ineffective," he wrote. Documents indicate the cull was initiated by ACT parks ranger Peter Mills who wrote that farmers shooting kangaroos on properties adjacent to the reserve had complained Googong was harbouring kangaroos. As preparations for the cull proceeded, he wrote to Environment ACT that six local farmers were "tickled pink that we are heading down this road". Animal Liberation spokeswoman Simone Gray has called for Mr Stanhope to make a public apology for the Googong cull. "There should be an independent inquiry into why the advice of two experts was completely ignored and an overhaul of the whole Environment ACT process on how decisions are made to kill animals," she said. ACT Animal Welfare Advisory Committee representative Frankie Seymour has called for an absolute commitment from Mr Stanhope that commercial harvesting of kangaroos will continue to be prohibited in the ACT. Former Greens MLA and Federal Senate candidate Kerrie Tucker said she was concerned at the possibility scientific information had been manipulated to support the kangaroo cull. Democrats MLA Roslyn Dundas said public opposition to the cull had largely been the result of the Government's failure to listen to community concerns. The ACT Government's own scientists expressed strong reservations about the recent controversial Googong kangaroo cull, according to documents obtained under Freedom of Information. The 260-page file, obtained by Animal Liberation ACT under Freedom of Information and passed to The Canberra Times, shows a senior ecologist thought the cull was not science-based, kangaroo numbers at the reserve had crashed by 65 per cent and that the operation was initiated by a park ranger. It includes internal e-mails, draft briefing statements, annotated reports and details of arrangements made with neighbouring farmers during the Googong cull. But Environment ACT executive director Dr Maxine Cooper has dismissed the scientific dissent as "robust debate", claiming the documents represent only "part of a conversation" about the cull. She said the scientists concerned had assisted with compiling reports to support the cull as part of "a team effort". A spokesman for ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said the minister had authorised the cull based on advice received from Environment ACT. "Robust debate is vital in any organisation and Environment ACT is no different," he said in a statement. "Information provided in FOI material, particularly e-mail correspondence, is very easily taken out of context and can be interpreted many ways depending on who is reading it." The FOI documents show senior ecologist Don Fletcher persistently called for government officials to "re-think" the decision to cull 800 eastern grey kangaroos at Googong, arguing it was not science-based, poorly thought out and did not meet government policy standards. Contrary to government claims kangaroo populations at Googong had exploded, documents confirm government data showed kangaroo numbers had crashed by 65 per cent in recent months. In an e-mail to senior staff, Mr Fletcher wrote, "In the 28-year history of [Parks and Conservation] wildlife monitoring programs, there has rarely been such a dramatic change as the recent decline in kangaroo density at Googong." A Government spokesman said the Chief Minister was " well aware" the population had dropped by 65 per cent. ******************************************** Environment ACT is standing by its decision to cull around 800 kangaroos at Canberra's main water supply despite documents showing some Government scientists had reservations. The documents have been obtained by Animal Liberation under the Freedom of Information Act. They show some scientists questioned the need for the recent cull at Googong Dam. Environment ACT's Maxine Cooper says the scientists' comments were part of an internal debate. She says the decision to go ahead with the cull was the right one. "The cull was absolutely necessary," Ms Cooper said. "The carrying capacity of the land, the number of roos that were there imposed significant problems. "In good catchment practice, we undertook the cull." ABC
Editorial Comment; Its perfectly obvious that we were right all along, there were other agendas for the Googong kangaroo kill. Clearly one of them was to keep a few farmers happy. So these harmless female kangaroos and their helpless offspring were brutally killed by an out-of-control Government agency that still, even in the face of FOI evidence against it, maintains the kill was "nescessary". It's also obvious that the ACT politicians, especially the Chief Minister, dance to the tune of a handful of subsistance farmers. ***************************************** Hey! Isn't it time That we open our eyes and believe Look, look at the world Can it really have been so deceived Wake up to the vanishing dream Gone with no reason or rhyme Stand up to the madness we've seen Tell me, now isn't it time Hey! Isn't it time That we stop all the killing and greed Time is slipping away And we'd better not lose what we need Wake up to the hunger and pain There with no reason or rhyme Stand up and be brothers again Tell me now isn't it time How long can people keep killing As life disappears How long can dreamers keep singing Songs no killer hears. Hey! Haven't we tried To convince everyone not to hate Soon we may find That the songs and the dreams are too late. Wake up to the cry in the night Filled with no reason or rhyme Stand up and we may win the fight Tell me know isn't it time GOD if this isn't the time! * From the movie ROAR! ******************************************** Kangamail 16/9/04 In WA, the drought has forced the Department of Agriculture to look elsewhere for kangaroo meat to supply its wild dog baiting program. Forty-two tonnes of roo meat come from Queensland, with more than 250,000 baits to be placed on pastoral stations in the Pilbara and Kimberley over the next few weeks. Biosecurity officer Andrew Longbottom says none of the WA processors were interested in supply meat. “Most of their meat, I believe, is used for human consumption and exported; and it's very time-consuming to make it into baits, because it's all cut up and ready for us when we get it here. “That, and the drought that we've had for the last three or four years, means that there's probably no kangaroos of any significant size or quantity, which makes it a bit difficult, because you can only use the large end of the kangaroo to make dog baits.” *Network Item ******************************************** We have had a few letters in from various Tasmanian politicians regarding the Smithton wallaby massacre. All replies received so far have attempted to justify the kill. ********************************************
Part of the Australian coat of arms will end up as Russian sausage meat under a deal negotiated by Charleville-based United Game Processors. It will export kangaroo meat prepared for human consumption in a $5 million abattoir to be built in the southwest Queensland town. UGP manager John Burey said the plant would handle up to 2000 kangaroos a day although 1500 to 1700 carcasses would probably be the average. Most of the boned-out meat would go to Russia under a deal with a Russian company that was investing in the abattoir. Russia wanted roo meat to supplement its sausages which were made from low-grade beef that required chemical supplements to stop fat from leaching but tainted the taste. The lean, high-protein, relatively low-cost kangaroo would overcome the problem. Mr Burey said the abattoir - the first built in Australia to process game for human consumption - should be operating by May and employ about 50 people. Mr Burey said the abattoir would provide greater continuity of work for Charleville residents. One of the town's biggest employers is Western Exporters, which slaughters up to 10,000 goats a week, mostly for the North American trade. Western Exporters had 140 employees working two shifts, except during winter when abattoir workers were laid off. However, these employees would find work at the UGP plant which would be busiest during winter. Mr Burey said the roo plant also would produce prime cuts for overseas markets and process feral pigs which were in demand in Europe. *The Courier-Mail ******************************************** For the first time in almost 12 months, dam levels around Canberra have begun to rise. In the past 24 hours, ACTEW says 48 millimetres has fallen in the Corin catchment, 36mm in Bendora and about 27mm in Googong. With last week's significant rainfall, it has meant more water is flowing into the dams than is being pumped out. ACTEW spokesman Aspi Baria says this has not occurred since Spring last year, with dam levels having risen by almost 2 per cent. However, He says a lot more rain is needed before authorities consider relaxing water restrictions. "Not yet but if this continues for a few more weeks we will seriously look at it," he said. *ABC Remember one of the reasons the ACT government tried to use to justify the Googong Dam kangaroo kill was that they didn’t expect any rain for months, and it was kinder to kill the kangaroos before they died of thirst! Well, now there has been a few showers, and there is plenty of feed for the kangaroos that are left.* ******************************************** The Review into the kangaroo shooting Code of Practice closes on 15th October. The background to how this Code was set up can be accessed by looking at the NRMMC website in particular “Record and Resolution of NRMMC 3, 11 Oct 2002”. You can look at www.mincos.gov.au http://www.mincos.gov.au/ and type in the word kangaroo, and it will lead you to the various meetings where kangaroos were discussed. To download the Discussion Paper prepared by the NRMMC Working Group check out
www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/trade-use/wild-harvest/kangaroo/code-discussion/index.html
*********************************************
Zookeepers from around the country have gone to Alice Springs in Central Australia to take part in the count of a species of wallaby that is extinct in the wild. The mala is a small shaggy-haired wallaby that used to roam the Tanami Desert but numbers plummeted with expanding European settlement and predators like the fox and the cat. The last wild group was wiped out by a wildfire in 1992. Colonies have been set up on an island off the Western Australian coast, in the Alice Springs Research Institute and at Watarrka National Park south-west of Alice Springs. The Alice Springs Desert Park has recruited seven zookeepers to survey the Watarrka colony, drawing experts from Taronga and Western Plains Zoos in New South Wales, Adelaide Zoo and the Territory Wildlife Park. The survey of the 100 hectare paddock is expected to take two weeks and researchers expect to catch, weigh and tag more than 200 mala. *ABC ******************************************** After 17 years climbing the mountain that is AFL football, Alastair Lynch is set to tackle an even bigger challenge. He will take on the likes of retail superpowers adidas and Nike in the world of football boots. In a pointer to possible retirement, Lynch, 36, will put his name to a revolutionary style of boots designed by the man who worked with Australian-born English soccer star Craig Johnstone to develop the Predator range of boots. Lynch, confident of playing in a preliminary final on Saturday week after a hamstring problem, has gone into business with world-renowned designer Simon Skirrow, former global vice-president of adidas based in Germany. The boots, to be released in January under the Nomis brand, have been produced from Australian kangaroo hide with a grip component that is said to be superior to that of normal boots. "We've added an extra grip component to the upper part of the boot so you've got more control and more purchase of your foot on the ball - in the wet and the dry," Lynch said yesterday. "When normal boots get wet, they get slippery - these boots actually get more grippy so there will be no sliding off the side because of moisture. "It doesn't mean you can't kick the ball crooked with poor technique, but it will give you a little more margin for error. We'd like to think the name is an insight into the boot." Lynch, who will be the face of the Nomis brand, won't wear the new boots in the preliminary final because there are no samples in his size, but Jason Akermanis has been involved in testing and Dylan McLaren has worn them in matches. "The feedback has been tremendous. It's been a six-month process and we've focused on three key areas: grip, comfort and weight. And being based in Australia we've been able to work with the players to fine-tune the product." Lynch also has released wet-weather football gloves, which have been worn with success by players from eight AFL clubs. Mal Michael wore two in the water-logged round-20 MCG clash with Hawthorn. A wet-weather golf glove has also been produced. "It's a step towards life after football which allows me to stay involved in sport, and particularly football," Lynch said. "But if I want to play on next year there's nothing stopping me from a business point of view. The boss is pretty understanding." Lynch is already looking for name players throughout the AFL to wear his boots next year, and is also hoping to establish a market in the rugby codes and soccer. *AGE ********************************************
I'm just a Tassie wallaby. My fur is soft and brown. If 1080 poison doesn't get me, the gun(n)s will shoot me down. Barriers to keep me out they say cost too much money. It seems to work in other states - “Clean and Green’ indeed - not funny. My forest home is gone; it's now replaced with new plantation. Nowhere to go, hungry and confused - So much for integration. The bush is razed and burned, my food is quickly disappearing. They'll dye the poisoned carrots blue and lay them in the clearing. We'll all come out of hiding to eat. It seems a really wonderful treat. We'll feast tonight (don't get a fright - it is the truth you're hearing). The poison won't take long to work; Quite soon we'll be convulsing. They say we won't feel pain, but how do they know? They're not doing the feeling. With joey hiding in my pouch, My body is tossed on the pile. The pyre grows higher, the landscape's on fire. Could anything be more vile? As you reach for those tissues crying for me, think of the horrors involved in growing that tree. Use your paper for good; Write to all those who can change this cruelty in Tasmania. Thank you and Amen. From a Tassie wallaby! ******************************************** Kangamail, our Kangaroo newsletter, can be subscribed to by going to the National Kangaroo Protection Coalition web site at www.kangaroo-protection-coalition.org and filling in the box at the bottom of the page. Archives can be accessed by subscribers only. The Coalition now has 28 groups working on the kangaroo issues. Our new website about the Googond Dam massacre can be found at www.kangarooslaughter.com http://www.kangarooslaughter.com Please take the time to make a comment in the guest book, we can use your comments in our campaigns. *WPAA ******************************************** Also our weekly wildlife newsletter Wildlife Bytes can be subscribed to by sending an email to info@wildlifeprotectaust.org.au with “subscribe Wildlife Bytes” in the subject line. ******************************************** Kangamail 1/9/04 There seems to be some misunderstanding about Operation Joey. We are now being accused of obtaining funds by false pretences. In last Kangamail we said quite clearly that, quote, “We have had some donations already to help succour and save the ex-pouch joeys left when their mothers were shot at Googong Dam, and to ensure that this massacre never happens again.” unquote. At no time did we suggest that funds would go to any carers to rear the dozen or so in-pouch joeys that were taken from their dead mothers by the shooters. Operation Joey is much more than the unnecessary massacre at Googong dam, it’s also about making sure this tragedy never happens again, in this, or in any other protected area, or fauna reserve. After extensive searching we could not find any ex-pouch joeys that survived the cold and exposure when their mothers were killed. We don’t know yet how many kangaroos were killed in total by ACT Parks at Googong, but there would be almost as many joeys killed too. All donors have been contacted and informed about that, and are happy for their donations to be used to further Operation Joey, which is now a public awareness campaign about the treatment of joeys when their mothers are killed. The campaign is now under way to further community understanding of this issue. If another kill takes place, and we understand they are talking about it, we hope to have even more community support for stopping it. If you would like to contribute to Operation Joey the address to send money orders or cheques is
Operation Joey, Animal Liberation ACT, PO Box 320, Civic Square ACT 2608,
Australia.
Overseas cheques are acceptable, just make all cheques payable to Animal
Lib, ACT. You can also make an online credit card donation on our WPAA website at
Receipts will go to overseas donors too, but they are not tax-deductable. We will then forward your donation to Animal Liberation ACT, who will administer the funds. We all thank you for your support. Please be aware that your donation will not be used to provide support to carers who have in-pouch Joeys taken from the shooters that they are rearing, much as they deserve it. There are processes in place for those who wish to do that, through WIRES. Alternatively, you can make a donation through the ACT RSPCA, who supported the kill. *WPAA ******************************************** Kangamail 30/8/04 Red Kangaroo Numbers Down There is concern red kangaroo numbers in South Australia's north are at their lowest level in years. The Environment Department's annual survey of kangaroo populations across the state is almost complete, with the results to be finalised next month. A member of the local Aboriginal community, Malcolm McKenzie, says he has been hunting kangaroos in the Port Augusta area for the last 40 years and he has never seen numbers so low. He says the department's surveys are not accurate and quota numbers are being set too high. "I don't think the kangaroo population's there, what there was five, six years ago," he said. "We've got to really address that and go back and look at it, and get a lot more people involved in making a decision about the number of kangaroos." ABC ******************************************** Fatal Pet Meat Unlabelled sulphites linked to cat's death. The health of an 11 year old cat with dermatitis worsened when it was put on a diet of fresh kangaroo meat. Despite hospitalisation, the cat died after a month. An autopsy suggested thiamine deficiency as the cause of death. The remaining kangaroo meat was analysed and found to contain up to 325 mg/kg ofunlabelled sulphur dioxide. Sulphite preservatives are known to destroy Vitamin B1 (or thiamine) in foods, so sulphites should not be added to foods which contain significant amounts of thiamine such as meat. Although sulphites are prohibited in mince for humans, they are used by unscrupulous butchers and permitted in sausages at 500 mg/kg. Signs of thiamine deficiency include: fatigue, insomnia, irritability, loss of appetite, irregularity, heart and circulatory disturbances, digestive disturbances, muscle tenderness, weight loss, forgetfulness, lassitude and mental inadequacy. Gross deficiency results in beriberi, a fatal heart disease. The cat's veterinarian concluded: 'this case study confirms that the problem of unsafe, uncontrolled and undeclared use of sulphites in the fresh, frozen and packaged pet meat industry in Australia, identified earlier [in a 1991 study of thiamine deficiency in cats and dogs], has not been addressed'. Steel RJS, Thiamine deficiency in a cat associated with the preservation of 'pet meat' with sulphur dioxide'. Australian Veterinary Journal ******************************************** Kangaroo art. The people have spoken - and the winner is an Aussie icon. At the presentation of the prestigious Waterhouse Natural History Prize last night, a portrait of a serene kangaroo beat international entries to take the People's Choice Award. The 'roo painting, The Gaze, tipped out some 500 good, bad and very ugly works of art. Winning artist Kevin Stead portrays what he describes as a "very calm, pensive animal" with a reflection of the bush in its eyes. His inspiration came from spending months painting in the Flinders Ranges. He said he wanted to represent the bush in a manner that made people stop and appreciate. And for those searching for a cheque book, the painting retails for more than $4000. "It is an iconic animal of Australia," says Mr Stead, who has been painting for more than 20 years. "It is like the bushman; intelligent, strong and resourceful. It has got people's attention." And his partner Narelle Taylor could not be more proud. "It is a very powerful painting. . . it really stands out doesn't it," she said. More than 26,000 people have seen the exhibition since it opened on August 7. * ******************************************** Tassie Wallaby Drive The wallaby drive at Smithton, Tasmania went ahead over the last weekend. Approximately 250 wallabies were killed. According to our media sources, they were driven from town by dogs, then killed with shotguns. The Council have said they will not kill any more at the moment but will have another wallaby drive later this year. We are asking that our concerned readers contact the Tasmanian government at the email addresses below. Many of our readers already have their own bans on visiting Tasmania, for various reasons, but you need to tell the government why you and your friends will not visit. For those who wish to write and complain about this disgusting action, the addresses are below. The Circular Head Council council@circularhead.tas.gov.au Councillor Graham Wells, hanlon.house@tassie.net.au The Premier needs an email too, his address is premier@dpac.tas.gov.au It appears to be Judy Jackson, at judy.jackson@parliament.tas.gov.au I do now have a full list of Tasmanian Government contacts if anyone would like more contacts, please email me at pat@wildlifeprotectaust.org.au ******************************************** Googong joeys We have had some donations already to help succour and save the ex-pouch joeys left when their mothers were shot at Googong Dam, and to ensure that this massacre never happens again. If you would like to contribute, the address to send money orders or cheques is Operation Joey, Animal Liberation ACT, PO Box 320, Civic Square ACT 2608, Australia. Overseas cheques are acceptable, just make all cheques payable to Animal Lib, ACT.
You can also make an online credit card donation on our WPAA website at ******************************************** Kangaroo Code of Practice Review A discussion paper (and that’s all it is!) regarding the COP is now on the Animals Australia website, at www.animalsaustralia.org.au We will argue the first thing they should do is change the name of the COP from "The Humane Shooting of Kangaroos" to "A Shooters Guide to Killing Kangaroos". The Chair of the Review Committee works for Western Australia’s Dept of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) who last year overshot the quota by 15000 kangaroos before they realised it! Now they are in charge of a bureaucratic process to decide if the COP needs to be changed! Please put in a comment if you can. Please be as nice as you can. Please don’t use rude language, tempting though it may be. Submissions close 15th October, if anyone would like to have a copy of our submission, for ideas, please send us an email. *WPAA ******************************************** Giant Kangaroos sighted in Chile Authorities are puzzled in Chile after a number of motorists reported seeing strange creatures resembling dinosaur kangaroos. The reports describe creatures more than two metres tall on a road north of Santiago, reports UOL Noticias Populares. The sightings were registered on different days, by people who had driven along the road linking Iquique and Arica, through the Atacama Desert. One witness, Hernan Cuevas, said: "A weird animal looking like a dinosaur with two legs and huge thighs crossed the road in front of my car." A police spokesperson said: "It is not uncommon for people to see strange things near the desert. "But it is the first time that so many people have come forward seeing the same things at the same time, so we are intrigued." Network Item ******************************************** Kangamail Kangamail, our Kangaroo newsletter, can be subscribed to by going to the National Kangaroo Protection Coalition web site at
www.kangaroo-protection-coalition.org Our new website about the Googond Dam massacre can be found at www.kangarooslaughter.com ******************************************** Kangamail Wallaby Drive Outrage Smithton in Tasmania has been invaded by wallabies, prompting a cull to bring the over-populating marsupials under control. Culling will be done tomorrow to clear the North-West town's gardens, backyards and streets of the bounding interlopers. A recent count found 25 wallabies on just a 30m section of road. Circular Head councillor Bernard Charles, who helped organise the cull, said residents were fighting a losing battle to save their gardens from being destroyed. "They have taken over. People can't grow anything and everyone has had to put netting around anything they're trying to save," he said. Cr Charles said wallabies had been seen in the middle of town but the problem was worst to the town's north. "One of the first complaints I received was from a resident in the middle of Smithton who regularly found wallabies in his backyard, and he was surrounded by other houses," he said. "It wasn't as though he was near a farm or bushland." Wallaby-proof fencing was even erected around seven houses by owners in an attempt to deter the animals. Cr Charles said there was also concerns for the wallabies' welfare because of the population explosion. "A lot of people have commented that the wallabies are not in good condition, and many of them are missing fur, most likely because they have been fighting with each other for territory," he said. He said the wallabies were not a significant driving hazard in the centre of town but the roadkill problem was mounting. "In town, people are driving slower, so it's not much of a problem, but certainly outside town you have to be careful," Cr Charles said. One of the cull's organisers, Warren McDonald, said 15 hunters had permits to participate in the exercise, which police, council and the State's Nature Conservation Branch had all been briefed about. Dogs would be used to drive the animals away from the residential area, through bush and on to a farm where they could be safely shot. Mr McDonald said a similar cull was done seven years ago, when the town was last invaded by large numbers of wallabies. Two hundred were taken. "It's too close to the town to be using 1080, and we don't really want that to be used," he said. "Shooting is the only way we can do it properly." Two weekends have been set aside for the cull, although Mr McDonald said a second cull might not be required, depending on how many wallabies were taken initially. *Mercury. Ed Comment. I’m lost for words here. I just can’t believe any persons in this day and age could be so stupid. This is no different to a roo drive, the sort of thing farmers did 100 years ago. The sort of thing that got rid of the Tassie tigers. It’s approved by the Police, and apparently the Tasmanian government. I know that many of our readers will want to put a tourism ban on Tasmania over this outrage. The National Kangaroo Protection Coalition now comprises 28 Aussie groups, plus all our contacts overseas. Thousands of people. Should we put a tourism ban on Tasmania? We can do it, and we can ask many hundreds of people from Aussie and all over the World, not to visit Tasmania. If you support encouraging a tourism ban over this atrocity, please send us an email. Pat * pat@wildlifeprotectaust.org.au ******************************************** You've heard about coyotes in Fairfield but now, it's kangaroos that people are talking about. Two kangaroos were spotted on Carlin Court, near Nilles and Pleasant Avenue. The people of Fairfiled are used to seeing kangaroos at the zoo and not walking down their streets. One of the kangaroos spotted in the area is now in police custody and the other is still on the loose. Police are also searching for their owners. The one kangaroo in custody was proof that 911 calls reporting the sightings were not a joke. "When we get the call we respond anyway, but the initial response is, 'well, have you been drinking?'" one officer said. In this case, it was the kangaroos that had been drinking, out of neighborhood ponds. One resident said his three kids saw an animal drinking out of the pond and came in to tell him. He said at first he thought it was a fox. "All of a sudden he stood up and I said 'oh my God, that's a kangaroo!'" said Rick Scheiber, Fairfield. Luckily Chuck Geurin, Animal Control Officer, got one before it hopped away. "I reached down and grabbed him by the tail and picked him up and hoped for the best!" Geurin said. Geurin said the kangaroo has probably been around people for most of it's life. Scheiber said he wasn't sure if he should tell anyone because he was worried no one would believe him. In Fairfield it is legal to own exotic pets, like kangaroos, so if you see a kangaroo on the loose call police, they will believe you. *US Media *Ed note, Actually from the photos they looked like swamp wallabies. ******************************************** A new WA group Animals Rights Advocates (WA) have now joined the National Kangaroo Protection Coalition, that makes 28 Australian groups! Plus lots of overseas groups. Wow! Who said people don’t care about kangaroos! * ******************************************** A species of Australian kangaroo is in danger of extinction because of its taste for fine food. Australian wildlife officials said the small northern bettong could be wiped out because it cannot get enough of its favourite food - truffles. The unusual nature of their eating habits means the small kangaroos contribute to the ecological vitality of the rain forest which they inhabit. Realising their key role, the government has backed moves to use sniffer dogs to search out truffles. They will be fed to animals born through a programme aimed at restocking the wild with the northern bettong. Recent research indicated truffles may be the most critical factor in the distribution and health of the animal. Bettongs are very choosy about where they live and what they eat." The northern bettong was once widespread in northern Australia. But forest clearance has reduced its numbers to small colonies in the rain forests of Queensland. They play an important role in the ecology of the rain forest as the truffle package they live on includes indigestible spores that are spread throughout the woodland in the bettongs' droppings. Truffles benefit trees by increasing their ability to absorb nutrients and water. In return, trees provide sugars necessary to truffle growth. Between 30 and 70% of the Bettong's diet is composed of truffles. The animal is nocturnal and solitary. During the day it retires to a grass nest built under a tussock or grass tree. * ******************************************** A discovery in 2002 has indicated that the ancient opossum-like Deltatheridium is to be classified firmly as a marsupial. The discovery supports the theory that the mammal group of macropods (kangaroos) now most common in Australia, may have originated in Asia. * ********************************************
|
