Kangaroo Archives 35

Canberra kangaroos

We have heard from the Australian Federal Police that a kill of some kangaroos occured last Wednesday 20 June 2007 between 7.45pm and midnight, behind Campbell Offices, off Majura drive, and fairly close to the rear of the Madjura Army Training Area. We dont believe the ADF was involved, this was on private land, and probably a "get even with the Greenies" kill by the ACT government. And what a dispicable government they are!

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A national wildlife group is confident the Defence Department won't go back on their assurance that a controversial kangaroo cull at two sites in Canberra's north wouldn't go ahead. The ACT Government has approved licences for Defence to cull excess numbers of Eastern Grey kangaroos at Majura and dart and euthanase animals at Belconnen. The Government says scientific evidence has shown the kangaroos are impacting endangered species and that some of the animals will soon starve.

Pat O'Brien, from the Wildlife Protection Association of Australia, says in meetings last month, Defence made it clear that they would feed the kangaroos until non-lethal options were found. "We've been telling our people not to trespass on defence land, to respect the fact that there may be dangerous munitions lying around," he said. "But I tell you, if they start killing kangaroos at Belconnen they way they've said they're going to kill, I'll be the first one over the fence."

The ACT Government says there's good scientific evidence behind the issuing of two licences to kill kangaroos at two sites in Canberra's north. The Director of Parks, Conservation and Lands Russell Watkinson says the kangaroos will starve and other endangered species will die if something is not done soon. "We've been concerned for sometime about the large numbers of kangaroos on these two sites and the impact that grazing is having on some endangered species that reside in the grasslands," he said. "So we've been working with Defence and we've considered the applications that they've made and believe that they're justified." *ABC

Animal rights activists warned of protests after authorities Wednesday approved the cull of 3,200 kangaroos on the national capital's grassy fringes, saying the animals have become too numerous and risk starvation. Canberra's administration, the Australian Capital Territory government, announced it would allow the Defense Department to shoot 2,800 kangaroos at one of its properties and use tranquilizer darts to kill another 400 on a second property, where shooting bullets its regarded as too dangerous to the public. Defense officials said in a statement Wednesday that they would reveal on Thursday if they intend to go ahead with the cull. The department argues that the 6,500 common eastern gray kangaroos that have overrun the properties at suburban Belconnen and Majura will starve if their numbers are not drastically reduced. The defense officials and government agree that the kangaroos are also destroying the grassland habitats of endangered species of lizards and an insect.

"We must care for the kangaroos as well as the threatened species of plants and animals, but our priority is to protect the rare and declining species," government official Russell Watkinson said in a statement announcing that the cull had been approved. Pat O'Brien, president of Wildlife Protection Association of Australia, which has as its patrons the family of the late "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin, threatened to trespass at the Belconnen site if the Defense Department attempts to dart kangaroos there and then administer lethal injections. "I'll be the first one over the fence," O'Brien told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio. Animal Liberation's Canberra spokesman Bernard Brennan predicted others would follow O'Brien in attempting to shield the kangaroos. "If people feel that strongly, you can't stop them," Brennan said.

A government environmental adviser, Ian Fraser, said darting kangaroos was a last resort because the stress of capture can kill them. "It's a very undesirable thing to do," Fraser said. "Shooting is much better, but that might not be an option at Belconnen." Fraser said the most pressing problem was the environmental damage the kangaroos were doing to the grassland through overgrazing. "This is native temperate grassland which is a critically endangered habitat," Fraser said, adding that there was no evidence yet that kangaroos were starving. *Int. Herald Tribune. Note; This story appeared on many overseas newspages, making the ACT government look just as it is....a bunch of geriatric, gun happy idiots.

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Sporting Shooters

THE gruesome discovery of three decapitated kangaroos has shocked a Ross Creek couple. The animals were found in Enfield Forest with their back legs cut off, believed to be for dog food. David Aitken, who was walking with his wife Cheryl when he found the carcasses, said it was a horrible sight. "We weren't happy about it," he said. Mr Aitken has often heard gunshots from the forest at night. It is also not the first time he has found dead kangaroos with their legs cut off. He is certain people have been using the forest to hunt for dog food. "The tails and the front legs were still there so it's not hard to work out they've taken the back legs for dog tucker," he said.

It is legal for registered gun users to shoot pests in state forests all year round, and game animals during season. But native animals are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975. Kangaroos can only be killed on private property with a permit. Penalties for illegally killing a kangaroo are a maximum fine of $5350, and or a maximum of six months in jail. A Department of Sustainability and Environment spokesman said the Enfield Forest incident would be investigated.

"This is definitely an illegal act and the DSE is keen to investigate," he said. "The killing or hurting of any native wildlife is considered a serious offence." "Anyone aware of any wildlife offences or any other offences against wildlife legislation is urged to call the DSE," he said. Any incidents can be reported to the DSE customer service line on 136 186. *Ballarat Courier

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No charges yet over ‘roo slaying

NO charges had been laid yesterday following a breakthrough in the investigation into the deaths of three kangaroos at Murramarang. Three 17-year-old Goulburn youths were interviewed earlier this week as a consequence of information received from the public following the brutal June long weekend killings. Goulburn detectives said they would file the case and send it to Batemans Bay police, who would make any final decision regarding prosecution. While unable to comment on the police investigation, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service spokesman Stuart Cohen said the kangaroos were partly a victim of "overfamiliarity that comes from people feeding them". "People shouldn't be feeding kangaroos in national parks. It removes their fear of humans, which is no good for them because they become vulnerable to attack," Mr Cohen said. "Secondly, they can wander up to kids and give them a belt over the ear and steal their sandwiches." Meanwhile "Murra", the joey saved from her slain mother's pouch is growing rapidly. *Batemans Bay Post

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Adidas Shoes

Soccer players will tell you that shoes made from kangaroo leather are among the best. The shoes are light, durable and "breathe" during play. "Most of the goals kicked in world class soccer are kicked with kangaroo leather," John Kelly, Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia executive officer, recently told Australia's Herald Sun. Kangaroo-skin shoes are worn worldwide and in 49 American states. California is the exception. Even though this state boasts the world class Home Depot Center in Carson, as well as the nation's most rabid soccer fans, players cannot buy kangaroo-leather shoes. The Los Angeles Galaxy would like to see the ban lifted, as would Adidas, which makes the shoes. The Galaxy wants access to top-shelf products.

California's ban doesn't come from bad intentions or ignorance; it's just outdated. Certain types of kangaroos were once on a list of "threatened" - the notch below "endangered" - animals until 1995. Now the opposite is true. In Australia, certain types of kangaroos are overpopulated. About six of the 55 species are regularly used in commercial industry. And hunters say the beasts are overrunning the continent. There are, of course, emotional ties to the animals. Californians love and respect animals and can't see making shoes from those cute 'roos. But what is lost in this adoration is how certain kangaroo species are regarded in their native land.

Australia's national symbol has both emotional and practical meanings. Making shoes from kangaroo hides Down Under is no different than making a pair of cowboy boots from cow hide in Texas. As long as the animals are treated humanely before slaughter, we have no problem with seeing them used for commercial purposes. Every American wearing a pair of leather sandals or wingtips right now would find themselves tiptoeing in hypocritical territory by saying that making shoes from kangaroos is somehow morally different than making them from cows.

In truth: Those who oppose using kangaroo skins tend to be opposed to slaughtering animals for commercial use at all. And while we deeply respect those beliefs, we disagree with the argument that animals should not be used to the benefit of humans. California is getting closer to allow its soccer players to sport kangaroo shoes. The state Senate has voted to lift the ban. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is feelingpressure from animal rights activists and professional soccer players as well as the athletic apparel industry. The Australian lobby, apparently unhappy with a decision not to allow natural gas imports to a terminal proposed for the Malibu coast, is watching as well. One indicator many be Schwarzenegger's love of footwear. "I am a major shoe queen," he once famously told Vanity Fair.*Long Beach PressTelegram

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More Kangaroos Killed

THE deliberate killing of four more kangaroos at Preston Beach has drawn outrage from police and the small bea chside community. Witnesses have reported a four- wheel-drive running over three kanga roos and reversing back over them be fore fleeing the scene on Saturday about 10pm. An implement was used to shatter the jaw of the fourth kangaroo, a fe male, and she was left dying in agony before being found by Peel police superintendent David Parkinson 10 hours later. Supt Parkinson said he had no op tion but to shoot the kangaroo because of the extent of its injuries and trauma it was experiencing - the second time he has had to put a kangaroo down that had been seriously injured in attacks. Three months ago, five kangaroos were run over and deliberately killed. In October last year, youths ran over two and 12 months ago, youths in a four-wheel-drive were seen chasing them on the Preston Beach golf course and trying to run them down. Supt Parkinson said he was sicken ed by the grisly sight of the female kangaroo and having to shoot another tortured animal.

``I don't see how any normal person can think it's fun and brave to run over defenceless animals and mutilate them, there's got to be something missing there somewhere,'' Supt Par kinson said. ``Some of these people defy com prehension because they are not doing what a normal person or even a hardened criminal does. ``The injuries were horrendous and to be confronted by that and see how those poor creatures suffered was hor rendous.'' Supt Parkinson, who has a home in Preston Beach, said there were many kangaroos along the coast and people in the beachside town treated them as pets. ``They are tame, they trust the com munity, they come up on their lawn and the next minute you get these peo ple who are deliberately killing them,'' he said. ``We've had enough of this and I wouldn't like to be the next person doing it that gets caught because the community have had enough. ``A lot of people come here and many leave their brains behind think ing they can drink and drive and they think it's a place where there's no law. ``They are sadly mistaken, the com munity has had a belly full of this and are traumatised themselves that it's been happening in their so-called peaceful community.'' The offenders face a $5000 to $50,000 fine and five years imprison ment if caught. Anyone with any information should contact CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000. Southwest Times

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South-east named worst area for roo-related crashes

A major insurer has labelled New South Wales' south-east as the state's top area for vehicle collisions with native animals. The NRMA says the region recorded almost 1,500 claims in the past 12 months, mainly through accidents involving kangaroos and wombats. The insurer's road safety manager, Pam Lester, says the drought is forcing the animals on to the roadside to find additional feed. "Kangaroos are the main source of the animal collision claims that we see," she said. "They make up about 80 per cent of the collision claims with animals and then that's followed by things like dogs, but that's probably more in the urban areas, and wombats and other wildlife in the regional areas. "So the kangaroos are a really big contributor to the number of claims we see." *ABC News

WHITTLESEA (Victoria) wildlife rescue volunteers are outraged at the deaths of three kangaroos following fireworks at Mill Park's new Bunnings. Whittlesea Council granted Bunnings a permit for a fireworks display to celebrate the hardware shop's official opening on Friday, June 15. Local Wildlife Victoria volunteers were called in soon after the pyrotechnics began to attend to three stricken roos that were hit by cars. The roos had been spooked by the fireworks and bounded on to surrounding roads. A male kangaroo was found dead on McDonalds Rd, a female kangaroo and an older joey were reported dead near Civic Drive and a joey, found in the pouch of the dead female, was rescued.

Wildlife Victoria volunteer Narelle Smith said she believed there were only a small number of kangaroos left in Mill Park because of motor vehicle accidents and major constructions. ``No protection is being offered for these kangaroos,'' she said. ``I'm very upset that the council and Bunnings knew the kangaroos were there and did not call for wildlife volunteers as back-up.'' Epping motorist Bek Batten is still reeling after her vehicle collided with the female kangaroo on Civic Drive. The kangaroo was dead by the time Mill Park police and wildlife volunteers arrived at the scene. Mrs Batten said the lives of motorists and animals were at risk because the roos were being disturbed by encroaching development. ``It was very emotional for me as I am a mother and it could well have been a woman with a baby but the principle is the same, there was a baby involved,'' she said. Bunnings spokeswoman Sarah Cumming said the company was concerned to hear about the incident. ``Bunnings works closely with local councils to seek permits and meet event guidelines,'' she said. The council could not verify reports of accidents involving kangaroos on the night. *Whittlesea Post

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Queensland Kangaroo Kill Quotas

Below are the quotas taken in Queensland up till 14th June 2007.

Central Queensland Kill Eastern grey 40%, Red Kangaroo, 32%, Wallaroo, 42% Whiptail wallaby, 3%

Eastern Queensland Kill Eastern grey 33%, Red Kangaroo, 45%, Wallaroo, 16%, Whiptail wallaby, 2%

Western Queensland Kill Eastern grey N/A, Red Kangaroo, 32%, Wallaroo, 6%, Whiptail wallaby, N/A

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