We in Australia proudly display our national icon the kangaroo, on our Coat of Arms, and rightly so. We have been working with many groups that make up the Australian voter (and many outside our country as well), groups of individuals who volunteer their time and efforts to rescue Australia’s precious wildlife whose numbers have been devastated due to bushfires; or have been struck by speeding vehicles, and shot or orphaned by ratbags with firearms.
Sadly, people in positions of power who can put a stop to this dwindling of native species, are being conned by propaganda spread by those who have a vested interest in the demise of kangaroos....by culling them. (killing them!)
An example of this spin is that kangaroos are in “plague proportions”, that they are “pests”, their “populations have exploded”, they are in “hordes”, they “compete for pasture”; and the latest ludicrous example; “they are eating endangered species of grass”. These yarns are completely fabricated and perpetuated by farmers, shooters, developer funded politicians, and the developers themselves, who do more damage to the land than any other species on the planet.
Was it Adolph Hitler who said; ‘If you tell a lie big enough; and often enough the people will eventually come to believe it’. Nothing seems more fitting than this sentence, on this issue.
Many Australians who have lived in rural Australia for several years, cannot remember seeing a single kangaroo in the wild. Kangaroo culling has nearly wiped them out. Tourists who come to this country often comment on how disappointed they are that they have to go to zoos to see
Australian wildlife. Where have they all gone? (…apart from Adidas footy boots?)
Due to loss of habitat, drought, consistent shooting, bushfires and car strikes, few native animals remain free on their own land upon which they have lived in harmony, for millions of years.
When the cover of the Australian bush is bulldozed and cleared for development or even worse, grazing enormous numbers of hard-hooved, non native species which compound and pollute the land, Australia’s native wildlife becomes more exposed and vulnerable without protection from wild weather, dogs and humans with firearms. Also, without the cover of their natural bushland, they only appear to be in larger numbers because they are more visible; when in actual fact numbers have reduced dramatically since the invasion of white man on this precious land.
Belconnen ( Canberra , 2008) was one of the saddest kangaroo massacres many of us have ever witnessed. This obscenity was a huge mistake, for many reasons, one of which was the fact that no independent studies were done to prove the case of the Dept. of Defence. Nor had any independent tests been carried out on the soil in that area to test for toxicity caused by former Defence activities, although we now know that contamination is very high.
Astoundingly, the ACT Government and Defence are now attempting to repeat this horror, at Majura. When we heard about this we were speechless. All we can say now is that this can no longer remain Australia ’s Dirty Secret. With the help of the internet, word is spreading worldwide and all eyes are on this event. Australia ’s treatment of its native wildlife, particularly kangaroo culling, is being compared to Canada’s mistreatment of baby seals, perpetrated by gun-happy, uninformed people driven by greed, ignorance, and short term profits.
Word is also out about a major boycott on Australian tourism and all things Australian (including wines), until this senseless slaughter of kangaroos is finally and permanently banned. This is no time for Australia to be experiencing a boycott of any sort, especially one that can be prevented.
We can no longer afford to continue ‘culling’ Australia ’s native animals. Animals which certainly do not need to be ‘culled’. There is no such thing as ‘sustainable culling’ (more shooters’ spin) of native species. As people who are very familiar with wildlife, and who care for this country, we believe we must take a step back and take a fresh look at this issue.
The true measure of a man is revealed in what he does with power. We must use that power for positive change; change that is many years overdue. We urgently need to implement laws so that not another single, beautiful kangaroo or her baby joey must suffer and die for no good purpose than to line the pockets of a small minority......... Pamela.
The planned kangaroo “cull” at Majura is totally cruel and unnecessary. Last year there was a massacre of over 500 because they were "starving", which was clearly false! Now they are being accused of threatening native grasslands and other species. This is a twisting of "science" to achieve a pre-conceived, the most convenient and desired outcome. There are clear parallels between Japan's "scientific whaling" and this planned massacre!
The real threats to grasslands and native species are urbanisation, agriculture, feral species, roads, degradation and loss of habitats, infrastructures, and livestock. This "management" plan is clearly targeting the wrong species, and making scapegoats out of our iconic and loveable kangaroos. Our native species do not come with price-tags, and are not seen as having value!
Kangaroos are known to have a Dry Sheep Equivalent (DSE) rating of between 0.2 and 0.7, meaning that one kangaroo would eat only 62.5% of that of one 50kg non-lactating sheep. Cattle have a DSE of 8!
Real management would address the proven threats to the grasslands and the Grassland Earless Dragon, Golden Sun Moth, Striped Legless Lizard, Perunga Grasshopper, Ginninderra Peppercress and the Button Wrinklewort. No previous studies reveal these species are threatened by grazing kangaroos. Wildlife corridors are not part of urban and rural planning in Australia.
Real science would be objective, and the "experts" would conclude that the threats to our biodiversity do not come from kangaroos.**
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