Army Training Exercises Causing Kangaroos to Panic Resulting
in their Death and Maiming
Dear
General Cosgrove,
We
have received a letter asking us to do something about many
hundreds of kangaroos that are being killed or maimed, when
the army sends flares, fires weapons and conducts their
night time training. This kangaroo panic also occurs when
the RAAF from Richmond Air Base conduct bombing raids on
the same range. Unfortunately every time this happens, the
result is dead and injured kangaroos found on the road.
Needless to say, these reports cause us grave concern for
the welfare of the kangaroos and I would be appreciative
if you would undertake an investigation into this matter
as soon as possible.
Army
Service Personnel as well as the general public should know
that kangaroos have intrinsic value, requiring Duty of Care
and concern for their welfare, and this issue must be addressed.
Does the army ever even think about the ramifications
of their actions on our unique nocturnal species of wildlife?
Specifically
the area in question is the Singleton Army Range. The Mitchel
Line Road runs off the New England Highway, first north
of Branxton, NSW for 8 kilometres before entering Singleton.
Then again on to the Putty Road west to Sydney from Singleton,
left again on the Broke Road which runs back to Cessnock
wine country. The triangular area inside these roads
is the Army Range.
Army
personnel should be taught that our native animals must
be treated with respect and that all care should be taken
to avoid harming them. It seems that soldiers have little
regard for kangaroos as we have received other reports of
abuse. The time is long overdue when such cruel treatment
of our native animals ceased and alternative training areas
be found. These are wild native animals and it is up to
us humans to learn to live with them as they were here first
and it is their habitat. What is occurring is untenable
and unacceptable and we ask that you do something about
it.
Sent
with respect to you Sir in the hope that you will find a
solution.
Maryland
Wilson
President
Australian Wildlife Protection Council
NSW Kangaroo Management Advisory Committee
cc:
Jenny Hodges CEO
RSPCA Australia
