Self
Regulation in the Kangaroo Industry:
The Code of Practice for the 'Humane' Shooting of Kangaroos is
NOT an Appropriate Mechanism and Should be Changed to " Shooters
Guide for Killing Kangaroos and Wallabies "
- The
Use of Shotguns Should be Outlawed to Kill Wildlife
-
The Use of " Squeakers" Must Be Outlawed
-
Stress Caused to Stress Prone Kangaroos and Wallabies Should
be Factored Into Shooters Guide
INTRODUCTION - FLAWED, DEFICIENT CODE OF PRACTICE
Challenge in the AAT March and August 2004 Sydney NSW
Maryland Wilson gave evidence to the AAT, March 2004
"CRUELTY
TO KANGAROOS AND JOEYS IS UNMONITORED AND UNPOLICED AT THE POINT
OF SLAUGHTER, WHERE THE CRUELTY BREACHES OCCUR "
"CRUELTY
TO KANGAROOS ARE ASSESSED WHEN KANGAROO CARCASSES ARE BROUGHT
TO THE PROCESSING PLANTS ; BUT BODY SHOT AND WOUNDED KANGAROOS
ARE NOT BROUGHT TO THE PROCESSORS BY SHOOTERS, SO THESE KANGAROOS
ARE NOT COUNTED AS PART OF THE BLATANTLY FLAWED CRUELTY STATISTICS.
"
"
THEREFORE RSPCA STATISTICS IN THE RSPCA REPORT JULY 2002 ARE FLAWED
BECAUSE WOUNDED, MAIMED, INJURED AND INHUMANELY SHOT KANGAROOS
ARE NOT COUNTED, BUT ARE LEFT ON THE GROUND.
CRUELTY STATISTICS ARE BASED ON A FALSE PREMISE AND ARE FLAWED
"
"
KANGAROO INJURIES ARE NOT COUNTED AT THE POINT OF SLAUGHTER BECAUSE
THE KILL IS UNMONITORED ; SHOOTERS DO NOT COUNT, OR ACCOUNT FOR
THE NUMBERS OF WOUNDED, INJURED OR INHUMANELY SHOT KANGAROOS THEY
LEAVE ON THE GROUND. THOSE KANGAROOS THAT HAVE BEEN HARMED, DO
NOT MAKE IT TO THE PROCESSORS TO BE COUNTED AS PART OF THE CRUELTY
STATISTICS.
THOSE KANGAROOS INHUMANELY SHOT ARE LEFT TO DIE, AS TOO, ARE THE
AT-FOOT, BUT STILL DEPENDENT JOEYS, WHICH ARE IGNORED BY WILDLIFE
AUTHORITIES, GOVERNMENT SCIENTISTS, T HE DEFICIENT CODE OF PRACTICE
AND A HEAVILY SUBSIDISED KANGAROO KILLING INDUSTRY.
IN-POUCH JOEYS ARE HIT ON THE HEAD, BASHED OR CLUBBED TO DEATH.
"
To harvest a sustained yield from a population at steady density,
it must first be manipulated in some way to promote the rate of
increase. Rates of harvest may be raised to levels at which they
can cause the extinction of the population. ARGUMENTS WILL BE
CONFOUNDED WHEN THERE ARE NON-CONSUMPTIVE VALUES ATTACHED TO THE
RESOURCE SUCH AS FOR TOURISM "
'Commercial Harvesting of Kangaroos in Australia'
by Gordon Grigg and Tony Pople see page 12
*Minutes of South Australian Kangaroo Management PUBLIC MEETING
5 November 1998
AQIS ( Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service) Meat Inspector
Eddie Andriessen:
"At the end of the day, I'm not going to stand and argue
about whether head shooting or body shooting is an acceptable
form of destruction for a wild animal. Head shooting must be the
way to go. If by chance you happen to only injure the animal,
and you have to body shoot it, then there's probably only one
choice but to leave it there. You'll have to record you've shot
it, but you'll have to leave it there because we do not want to
see it in the processing works."
*'The Kangaroo BETRAYED!'
Kangaroo BETRAYED page 3 para 8 Georges
Kangaroo BETRAYED page 6 para 4,5,6 Singer
Kangaroo BETRAYED page 8 to 9 para 7, 8, 15 Wilson
Kangaroo BETRAYED pages 17-18 para all Kennedy
Kangaroo BETRAYED page 24 to 27 para 21,22,23,24,28 Arnold
Kangaroo BETRAYED page 35 para all Denny
Kangaroo BETRAYED page 37 to 38 para 2,4,5 Reilly
Kangaroo BETRAYED page 19 para Last 4 Thiriet
ALTERNATIVE:
I enclose a copy of 'The Kangaroo BETRAYED!' which sets out clearly
the pages which prove the Code of Practice is inherently flawed
and any revision or review, is a waste of time and money. It would
be far more appropriate, far less expensive, and far more productive,
for all State Governments to recognise alternatives to the commercial
killing of kangaroos, our Number One Australian Tourist icon so
loved around the world, and the Australian community.
Every
time a kangaroo is killed, Australia's reputation as a humane
society, sinks further into the mire. Kangaroos are worth far
more $$$ to Australia alive than dead.
Page
3
What is the Code of Practice for the 'Humane' Shooting of Kangaroos?
-
It is a deficient set of regulations, that fails to protect
or provide for the ex-pouch, but still dependent joeys, which
escape, to die a lingering death from starvation, chilling,
psychic depravation and increased predation.
- This
deficient Code that the cruel, kangaroo killing industry , governments
and politicians hide behind allows for the in-pouch joeys to
be bashed on the head with an iron bar or water pipe, or decapitation.
-
Nowhere else in the world are young animals treated with such
blatant disregard for their suffering as in Australia; the Canadian
harp seal massacre results in a similar rejection and revulsion.
- There
is no monitoring or policing of the Code at the point of slaughter
where cruelty breaches occur,
- The
Code is a 'shooters guide' of how to kill kangaroos
Page
4
Why do we need to review the current Code of Practice?
"The aim of the working group would be to produce a third
edition of the Code, should it be required ".
The above is a disgraceful admission, because all in government,
and Wildlife Authorities fail to see or admit the Code of Practice
is so totally flawed that it should be called a Shooters Guide
for Killing Kangaroos.
-
It fails to address the psychological implications of shooters'
nightly attacks on stress prone kangaroos, leaving terrified,
maimed and disrupted family mobs. The destruction of the hierarchy
of the rich complex family groups Is not taken into consideration
nor is the fate of the ex-pouch joeys.
- The
use of shotguns in the non-commercial kill should be outlawed
everywhere, including Tasmania, to kill native animals. It is
disallowed in the commercial kill, why is it acceptable in the
non-commercial, recreational kill or farmer's killing kangaroos
to feed dogs …etc.
-
What is occurring is an admission that you fail to properly
police, and punish offenders, while allowing acts of terror
and cruelty that are unacceptable In civilized society.
- Administrative
Appeals Tribunal: The National Kangaroo Protection Coalition,
Australian Wildlife Protection Council challenged the Code in
the AAT in Sydney ( March/ August 2004, under the EPBC Act
-
We exposed its flaws and in evidence heard an admission from
all three Kangaroo Program Managers : Queensland's Sally Eagan,
South Australia's Lisa Farroway, and West Australia's Gordon
Wyre that there is NO policing, or monitoring at the point of
slaughter where cruelty breaches occur.
- The
Code fails to protect kangaroos or their joeys, and is a farce.
Environment Australia and each State Government ( Qld, WA SA
TAS and NSW) hide behind the Code to cover up their role in
the world's largest, cruel wildlife slaughter. The Code does
nothing to alter this brutality which leaves orphaned joeys
to die alone, disrupts family mobs and is fundamentally and
inherently cruel. The Code is a farce.
ALTERNATIVE:
Cruelty to kangaroos is inherent in the kangaroo killing industry
and is impossible to monitor or police. Therefore, as the kangaroo
killing industry cannot operate without extreme cruelty, it must
be brought to an end, and alternatives such as non-consumptive
uses for kangaroos, as tourism must be recognized, appreciated
and implemented. Commercial killing of kangaroos is evil, cruel
and a blight on Australian society. Connecting, continuous wildlife
corridors should be developed for safe habitat.
Page 5
What Criteria will be used in Assessing Your Submission?
1. 'Your views may be included in any revised Code…etc'
Whether or not our views are incorporated in any new Code, we
reject the Code as an appropriate or effective means of dealing
with cruelty to kangaroos. As we have already stated, the kangaroo
killing industry and killing kangaroos generally, is not policed
or monitored at the point of slaughter, where cruelty breaches
occur The Code is not an appropriate mechanism, is flawed and
impossible to police. These facts are ignored.
WA OVERSHOT THEIR 2003 QUOTA BY 15,000 kangaroos.
Dr Gordon Wyre, West Australia CALM Kangaroo Manager told the
AAT Hearing that WA over shot their 2003 quota by 15, 000 kangaroos,
but he still maintained the kill was humane, sustainable and under
control. 15,000 kangaroos were illegally killed and EXPORTED by
Environment Australia.!!!
Page
7
What is the Code of Practice for the 'Human' Shooting of Kangaroos?
It is a deficient set of regulations that are hopelessly flawed.
They are impossible to police and are not monitored at the point
of slaughter where cruelty breaches occur.
Page
8
Who is conducting the Review of the Code? We fail to see that
any of you consider what is best for the kangaroos and believe
you do not have the welfare of kangaroos as a priority, first
and foremost The Code is hopelessly flawed.
.
What Aspects of the Existing Code Might Need Revising?
1.1 Title of the Code
Yes, it needs changing to 'A Shooters Guide for Killing Kangaroos"…this
is better terminology that can more clearly convey the intent
of the Code.
1.1
'The notion of 'shooting' per se includes non-commercial shooting
for mitigation of damage to crops and pasture and also recreational
shooting, where this is permitted. "
Below demonstrates how farcical the Shooters Guide (Code ) is.
In
NSW they removed the damage mitigation clause and now kill kangaroos
as a resource, whether or not they are harming crops or doing
any damage, they are now a commodity that can be shot to provide
an economic benefit to all Australians. Do you realize the ire
this raises outside Australia, which has become one of the most
hated nations on earth for its treatment of kangaroos and its
beautiful wildlife?
Page
9
1.2 Layout and Format
(b) 'The Working Group also noted that people involved in the
commercial kangaroo industry, farmers or members of the community
who might engage in the shooting of kangaroos will have varying
degrees of literacy ..there will be great benefits in providing
the material ( how to shoot kangaroos) in a range of formats including
CD. Video, DVD and even audio tape ( in conjunction with the written
copy since it currently includes diagrams) . To achieve delivery
of the Code in a wider range of formats would require additional
funding above the costs of simply reprinting a 'booklet' style
Code."
The Kangaroo industry, farmers and other 'stakeholders' who want
to shoot kangaroos are heavily subsidized and now you want tax
payers to subsidise you even more to produce 'A Shooters Guide
for Killing Kangaroos"
ALTERNATIVE:
Get rid of the industry; teach how to live with kangaroos. There
is more money to be made from tourism and developing continuous
connecting wildlife corridors for tourist viewing. You are all
just too blind to see because you can't get past the red necks
and killers and you don't want to!
Page 9
1.3 Shooting for Scientific Purposes.
1.4 The following is a CASE STUDY which occurred at WA
University and proves lack of control and policing. Ethics Committees
of Universities should be made aware of what goes on at their
Institution!!!
GEOGRAPHER/ TOUR OPERATOR DR. MARION HERCOCK SEMINAR
University West Australia March 5, 2004
REPORT MARIAN HERCOCK TO UNIVERSITY (WA) ETHICS COMMITTEE AND
CALM FOR SHOOTING KANGAROOS WITHOUT A LICENCE
QUOTE: Do you have a shooters license? "No I don't actually.
I'm a lousy shot. Only get body…"
Unless one attends a Lecture as Peta Rakela WA did and takes notes,
we are unable to know what is being taught. Marian Hercock is
PRO kangaroo killing and thinks the kangaroo industry is acceptable
and sustainable. We not only challenge her on the factual content
of some of the statements she is purported to have made but also
because she shoots kangaroos, knowing she is a poor shot and with
out a license.
The Shooters Guide ( Code) fails here …
HERCOCK'S LECTURE
Kangaroo Products: integrating ecology economics and culture to
develop a sustainable industry Sustainability - definition "meeting
needs of the present..."
*kangaroo industry has the POTENTIAL to be sustainable but obstacles
include lack of social acceptance and cultural acceptability.
cultural cringe 4 pillars: Culture, economics, society, ecology
can't have it without culture and society
CHALLENGE
Hercock: Perimeter fencing imprisons kangaroos so populations
become implosive! 15000 culled and buried (Victoria has long standing
policy of NO Commercial killing) She says this is "A scandalous
waste - Surely if they die we can use them!" Hercock says
*Employment opportunities are being wasted.
FACT: Phalaris grass, known to be toxic to kangaroos and
a fire hazard, is still planted. to feed cattle and sheep within
Puckapunyal and to compact fragile soils, eroded by army maneuvers/overgrazing
by sheep and cattle. Puckapunyal fiasco is a ploy by the Liberal
Party to introduce commercial harvesting of kangaroos in Vic.
*Describe
- killing- high calibre rifle Dr Hercock admits she is a lousy
shot, and only gets body shots " I'm a lousy shot , only
get body" Hercock should be reported to RSPCA; Keep records
of all phone calls, letters, dates, times for action.
Question
to WA University Lecturer What do you do with in pouch joey ?
pull them out - squash their heads (demo given) or hit them over
the head with an iron bar and the joey at foot? - shoot them *And
how is ecological damage avoided? Same tracks used. * Mention
made re blinding with headlights, 15 % miss rate. ; Zoologist
Rawlinson said spotlighting is an act of cruelty in itself.
Hercock
was asked to describe method used to commercially kill kangaroos,
hoping she would squirm having to reveal the details ( we know
are so gory), She said her husband would be best to answer as
he had knowledge of guns. She said she is a lousy shot. I then
directed the focus to "in pouch" joeys. She described
with apparent relish, how they were ripped out of the mothers
pouch and stomped on. Another example of Australian 'Culture of
Cruelty and Exploitation ' supported by those authorities who
are supposed to protect kangaroos. What do you intend to do about
Marian Hercock who continues to teach at The University of West
Australia ?
Page
10
1.5 Competency and Compliance
Once again, the contents demonstrate the Shooters manual ( the
Code) is farcical .
" Proficiency tests are already required in Qld. NSW and
SA and WILL become mandatory in WA in the near future…"
WA has had NO proficiency tests over the years it has allowed
kangaroo killing.
- WA
questions the NEED for a Review of the Code
- WA
overshot their 2003 quota by 15,000 kangaroos
- Environment
Australia allowed illegal export of these 15,000 kangaroos
- Facts
are reason to reject the Review of the Code and declare it a
Shooters Guide to Killing Kangaroos and Wallabies which suits
the mentality, intent and lawlessness of the commercial kangaroo
killing industry and supporters.
- WA
does not have everything under control because the Shooters
Guide to Killing Kangaroos (the Code) gives citizens the 'right'
to murder innocent kangaroos which by its very nature demeans
Australia around the world, People for the Ethical Treatment
of Animals (PETA) cites boycotts: Tas.
Compliance
" Compliance cannot be tested in advance of a license being
granted, however, it can be evaluated by the regulatory body through
inspection of carcasses, vehicles and premises and need not be
included in any revision of the Code "
Method of Shooting
We have already demonstrated that cruelty breaches occur long
before the carcasses reach the processors to be 'inspected'. We
have also demonstrated there is NO policing or monitoring at the
point of slaughter where cruelty breaches occur and where wounded
and injured kangaroos do not make it to the processors but are
left on the ground or escape to die a terrible death, far from
prying eyes. And most certainly shooters do not report inhumane
kills.
"The
humaneness of shooting in the scrub, particularly when targeting
smaller kangaroos and wallabies, was questioned due to the reduced
visibility and possibility of the projectiles being deflected
and losing sufficient momentum to prevent them achieving a quick
and painless death. The current wording is designed to accommodate
the full range of circumstances under which kangaroos and wallabies
are shot ( ie. Commercial, non-commercial, damage mitigation,
and recreational shooting) and the different behaviour of kangaroos
and wallabies."
The
Code must be called: "A Shooter's Guide to Killing kangaroos
and Wallabies" This reflects its true intent to harm and
kill kangaroos and wallabies.
Page
10 and 11
'…care needs to be taken to ensure that whatever minimum
standards are applied can be reasonably achieved by the majority
of shooters…"
Many shooters are sadistic psychopaths who like to kill kangaroos
/ animals. Many are illiterate, and there is NO policing or monitoring
at the point of slaughter where cruelty breaches occur . So with
no policing, or checks on the shooters and the fact that kangaroos
may be injured/maimed and left , how will kangaroos be protected
?
The Working Party considers that if standards are set so high
that many shooters are unable to reach the required benchmarks
this may lead to some shooters, particularly non-commercial shooters,
ignoring minimum standards of competency established in the Code,
creating significant compliance issues for the relevant authorities.
"
You
have an attitude problem that will NOT be solved by lowering standards
for killing kangaroos, to a bare minimum. This is an admission
that you cannot police the killing and standards are so low as
to allow illiterate, psychological misfits, to kill kangaroos
while failing to address cruelty issues.
Code must be called a "Shooters Guide for Killing Kangaroos"
and not the hypocritical 'Code of Practice for the 'Humane' Shooting
of Kangaroos', when there is nothing humane about it, especially
when the stress caused to these stress prone animals is never
taken into consideration or measured in any way.
Page
11
1.6 Firearms
" The use of firearms for the killing of certain species
of kangaroos is currently endorsed in the Code ( see the Table
in Schedule a of the Code)…The Working Group considers that
the use of shotguns is controversial in some quarters and warrants
review. Shotguns are not permitted for the shooting of kangaroos
as part of the commercial harvest in the four States with approved
management plans for kangaroos…As such the issue of shotguns
only relates to non-commercial shooting for damage mitigation
and recreational shooting of smaller macropod species, and even
then only in some States and Territories." ( presumably it
is OK to use shotguns in the 4 sates if shotguns are used for
non-commercial purposes such as killing kangaroos to feed farmers
dogs, or recreational shooting of smaller macropod species or
'hoon/ yabo' shooting, or as pest/vermin control etc)
"
In most States the use of shotguns for taking macropods was reported
as being minor although staff in wildlife agencies did not have
data on the level of shotguns. The Working Group considered what
impact any change to the Code to disallow shotguns may have on
the current shooting activities in each State. "
This
is another example of a Code Working Group being more concerned
about the impact on shooters, if the use of shotguns were disallowed,
rather than the welfare of kangaroos, and ensuring the killing
is humane, which we all know, is impossible…Kangaroos are
not protected from harm as a first priority as the Shooters Guide
for Killing Kangaroos(Code) caters to the lowest common denominator.
All State Wildlife Authorities fail in their Duty of Care.
Table 1
" Summary of the use of shotguns for the shooting of kangaroos
and wallabies in Australian State and Territories, an d the likely
impact on those activities should the use of shotguns be excluded
from a revised Code. "
Jurisdiction Extent of use of shotguns Implications of Changes
Tasmania Very HIGH significant
South Australia Very low Minor
Western Australia Very low Insignificant
New South Wales Very low Minor
Queensland Very low Minor
Victoria None None
Northern Territory Negligible None
ACT None None
Tasmania
is the home of John Kelly, Lenah Game Meat Proprietor, Kangaroo
Industries Association of Australia ( KIAA), a person who actually
is treated with respect by the Working Group , even though he
has been proven to have been cruel to wallabies, killed at Lenah
Game Meat Processors (ABC 7:30- Report). Such is the acceptance
of cruelty to kangaroos and other native animals in Australia
that John Kelly is not only allowed to continue harming native
species, but is welcomed to be part of the Working Group to determine
any revision of the 'farcical' Code..
Page
12
Tasmania
" While there are no management plans approved to enable
the export of macropods
Tasmania commercially harvests macropods for the domestic market.
Commercial shooters can use centre fire and rimfire rifles. Shotguns
are not used in the commercial macropod harvest. However, recreational
hunters are a major means od providing crop protection and these
hunters do sue shotguns."
"Tasmania
has its own code of practice for shooting
( http://www.dpiwe.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/Attachments/CPAS-5TE4Y9?open).
The Tasmanian standard allows wallabies to be shot with shotguns,
centrefire and rimfire rifles. There are differences between the
national and State Codes with respect. To firearms, shot size
and projectile specifications. The State has committed to phasing
out the use of the toxic 1080 poison baits for crop damage mitigation
over the next decade and shooting will play a major role in future
crop protection practices. Without the recreational shooters,
the full back positions in the phasing out of 1080 are currently
limited. Use of shotguns is a significant practice.
Alternative to the unacceptable cruelty to kangaroos and wallabies.
The Working Group should disallow shotguns and 1080, and protect
wildlife
Page
1.5
South Australia
" Damage mitigation permits are issued for Tammar Wallabies
on Kangaroo Island . Under the current Code, shotguns or centrefire
riles may be used to take ( kill) these animals. It is not known
what proportion of Tammar Wallabies are currently taken
( killed) with shotguns."
WHY NOT? Tammar Wallabies are sentient behaving, biological, sentient
beings and deserve to be treated humanely. The culture of killing
Australia's native species which have had their habitat stolen
and then declared pests, must stop. Self-limiting factors such
as bushfires, drought, disease, floods, limit populations.
Western
Australia
" All kangaroos ( two species) going into commercial trade
must be taken ( killed)
with centrefire firearms. Licenses are available for damage mitigation
culling
Culling is killing) for three species using firearms, including
shotguns, but shooters must comply with the Code.
If shotguns are disallowed in the commercial trade, then why are
they allowed to be used at all. This message, loud and clear,
is saying that if native species are not killed for commercial
purpose to make a commercial gain, they do not have to be humanely
shot. And it is saying those kangaroos or wallabies that have
no commercial value are not worth protecting from cruelty..
It
is saying that farmers and recreational shooters do not have to
comply with rules and regulations because they are too difficult
to police, and we can't even police the Code for the commercial
trade let alone killing for non-commercial purposes. This demeans
the whole idea of preventing cruelty…and who cares anyway,
certainly not the State Wildlife Authorities because there is
no policing or monitoring at the point of slaughter. In fact cruelty
is rife and goes unpunished.
Queensland
" Shotguns are not permitted for damage mitigation control
of any macropod species on Queensland. A standard condition of
permits requires the use of a centrefire rifle in accordance with
the Code.
The
Shooters Guide for Killing Kangaroos (the Code) does not permit
the use of shotguns in Qld so why are shotguns tolerated/ used
in any State? What has emerged is the unacceptably high level
of cruelty that is tolerated by Wildlife Authorities because farmers
want kangaroos dead, industry wants kangaroo products for export
$$$ and shooters, hoons, and psychological misfits want to have
some fun and kill wildlife.
It makes Australia to be the hunting shooting killing capital
of the world.
New South Wales
" Shotguns are not permitted for commercial harvest of kangaroos
and in the western zone, where the commercial harvest occurs,
there is negligible or no use of shotguns. Officers are unaware
of any significant use of shotguns in the eastern areas, but if
it
does occur, it is likely to be uncommon. Shotgun use is considered
to be minor and the implication of any changes to the Code would
be negligible."
Why
not make shotguns illegal in NSW? Why are shotguns tolerated at
all ? There is a large non-commercial kill and a large recreational
kill so how does NPWS know the extent of the use of shotguns by
farmers and recreational shooters? There is rampant disregard
for kangaroos and wallabies, as they are killed as a resource,
and this total disregard leaves 290 native species killed on NSW
roads every hour. The Code should be renamed " The Shooters
Guide for Killing Kangaroos " as it reflects the psyche of
the people who kill them.
1.5 Page 12
Victoria
There is no use of shotguns for macropod control.
ACT
MOST damage mitigation involves Eastern grey kangaroos and
the ACT does not allow the use of shotgun use.
Summary
The data presented indicates that shotguns are not used in any
commercial harvest and, with the EXCEPTION of TASMANIA,
all commercial harvest of kangaroos is done with centrefires.
In relation to the commercial harvest the deletion of shotguns
from the Code would not be difficult t\o implement.
However,
the situation is different in Tasmania, where there is significant
use of shotguns. The Tasmanian situation is different since the
target species are small wallabies
(Bennetts wallaby and Tasmanian pademelon). Tasmania has argued
that the humane shooting of such small macropods 'can be achieved
with shotguns and rimfire rifles under appropriate circumstances.
- What
are the appropriate circumstances???
- Advice
given to the AWPC says: NEVER EVER ALLOW THE USE OF SHOTGUNS
to dispatch wildlife.
-
Nearly every farmer has a shotgun so it is easy for farmers,
hoons and shooters to use a shotgun; it is easy for Wildlife
Authorities too, to evade and abdicate responsibility to protect
wildlife from cruelty
-
Shotguns inflict pain and suffering and are not acceptable.
Where is the justification to shoot these small macropods other
than tradition?
- There
is significant use of shotguns in Tasmania but does not make
it right; there is significant use of 1080 also which now threatens
Tasmanian Devils
- The
present Code needs to be revised as a Shooters Guide for Killing
Kangaroos and Wallabies . Wildlife Authorities use the Code
as a smoke screen for their support of the largest most brutal
killing of wildlife on the planet, to provide an easy income
for rural Australians; they fail to recognize or appreciate
that kangaroos are worth more alive than dead.
1.6
Commercial versus Non-commercial Shooting of Kangaroos
'Professional shooters generally operate to a higher standard
by virtue of the fact that they have more experience, and as conditions
of their licenses can only sell carcasses of animals that have
been shot in the head or heart, can only use centre-fire rifles
and cannot use shotguns.'
'The
Working Group suggests that the specifications in a revised Code
should clearly stipulate the separate requirements for commercial
and non-commercial shooting of kangaroos and wallabies if there
is a requirement to maintain different standards.
"
If the use of shotguns during non-commercial damage mitigation
activities was no longer required or supported in the Code shotguns
can only be used for smaller wallabies." 1.6 The Code Working
Group is saying :
- Because
wallabies have little or no commercial value due to their size
or their lack of any commercial value, it is OK to inhumanely
kill them and the Code washes its hands of how these small wallabies
are treated.
- We
have established after consulting with an experienced shooter
and wildlife authority that shotguns should never ever be used,
yet the Working Group says that shotguns CAN be used to kill
smaller wallabies because clearly these little wallabies, have
little or no commercial value and it is OK to inhumanely kill
them with shotguns.
- "
If shotguns are left in the Code then the Code could be revised
to clearly differentiate between the commercial harvest activities
( no shotguns) and damage mitigation/ non commercial harvest.
( shotguns)
- The
Code then stipulates that only those wildlife species that have
a commercial value deserve to be treated humanely and those
that do not have a commercial value or are considered pests/
vermin can be treated inhumanely, by killing them with shotguns.
- This
is unacceptable and is clearly an indication that the welfare
of kangaroos and wallabies is not considered at all in the Code
; only the commercial value placed on them is considered, and
those that profit. There is NO policing or monitoring at the
point of slaughter so this is a Public Relations exercise farce.
1.7
Humane Killing
a )Head Shot versus Brain Shot
The Shooters Guide for Killing Kangaroos and Wallabies' is appropriate
as this section is concerned with the actual how to kill.
b) Euthanasia of Pouch Young
" One of the likely outcomes of shooting kangaroos and wallabies
is that adult females will be taken ( KILLED), some of which may
have joeys in the pouch or dependent young- at- foot There are
clear instructions , including searching of the pouch for young
and immediately killing of those young, by decapitation or a heavy
blow to the skull to destroy the brain, or shooting???
As
far as we are aware, there is at present NO provision for shooting
in pouch joeys, a source of debate in the AAT. So where did this
come from?
Shooting the in-pouch joeys? With a captive bolt pistol? This
is not part of the Code so why is it written as though it is?
Possibly you are ashamed that bashing joeys to death is part of
"The Shooters Guide for Killing Kangaroos and Wallabies"
(the Code).
"However,
the Shooters Guide for Killing Kangaroos and Wallabies, the Code
does not provide any guidance for the humane destruction of young-at-foot."
We
have established that there is NO policing or monitoring at the
point of slaughter where cruelty breaches occur as admitted in
AAT testimony AAT by 3 Kangaroo Program managers, Lisa Farroway
SA, Sally Eagan Qld and Gordon Wyre WA. What happens to in-pouch
/ex-pouch joeys is a matter of speculation and conjecture.
The
Working Group discussed what range of alternative techniques were
available for the euthanasia of pouch young and young-at- foot
( eg Decapitation, captive - bolt gun, barbiturates) and how they
readily each of those techniques could be implemented by kangaroo
shooters in the field.
It
was recognized that the section in the existing code dealing with
this issue could be improved. (this is the understatement of the
year as there is only one way for this to be dealt with and that
is to stop the kangaroo killing industry soonest and all face
the enormous barbarism in what is occurring. There is no other
animal where the young is treated with such brutality.
Specifically,
it may be possible to describe particular techniques that are
more appropriate than other for pouch young of particular age
groups ( ie un-furred pouch young, furred pouch young, pouch young
with harder pads on their feet indicating considerable time spent
out the pouch and young-at-foot). It would also be important to
ensure that whatever techniques are specified can be applied routinely
and humanely without creating occupational health and safety issues
for the people involved in shooting the kangaroos.
This is unbelievable!
The Working Group has actually specified several ways for shooters
to make the killing of joeys more humane and then qualifies these
by prefacing the need to protect the shooters involved in shooting
kangaroos, without creating occupational health and safety issues!
There
is only ONE action to make the barbaric treatment of in- pouch
and ex-pouch young humane and that is to stop the killing altogether
by an end to the commercial kangaroo killing industry.
The
question of shooters transferring joeys to wildlife carers was
also discussed. It was agreed that this practice is not appropriate
as it simply hands the responsibility on to a third party, making
it more difficult for relevant authorities or animal welfare inspectors
to ensure the humane treatment ( including euthanasia) of joeys
in the possession of the shooters and any subsequent wildlife
carers.
If
the Working Group cares about the humane treatment of kangaroos
and their joeys, they could not tolerate or support this vile
killing industry. Any talk about the responsibility of wildlife
carers, is nonsense when cruelty to kangaroos and their joeys
is inherent in the industry which must be brought to an end.
ALTERNATIVE
The WA Kangaroo Program Manager Gordon Wyre cannot be trusted
to control over shooting as he allowed the 2003 WA quota to be
overshot by 15,000 kangaroos.
He cannot be trusted to treat kangaroos and their joeys humanely
and enforce the Code " The Shooters Guide for Killing Kangaroos
and Wallabies".
The
State Kangaroo Program Managers, Lisa Farroway SA, Sally Eagan
Qld, (and the other Kangaroo Program Manager, Nicole Payne NSW
NPWS ) are unable to police or monitor cruelty at the point of
slaughter, as admitted in testimony given at the Administrative
Appeals Tribunal (AAT) . Therefore, given the unacceptable level
of cruelty to kangaroos and their joeys, the kangaroo killing
industry must be brought to an end and until such time as it does
end, the Code should be called 'The Shooters Guide to Killing
Kangaroos and Wallabies".
2. Matters Relating to the RSPCA Report (2002)
The RSPCA Australia identified issues relating to
- Compliance
/training of professional kangaroo shooters
-
Projectile types used by shooters
-
The use of shotguns to shoot kangaroos
- Humane
euthanasia of pouch young; and
-
not shooting females as a means of avoiding having to euthanase
pouch young
2.1 Male Only Kangaroo Harvests
In the RSPCA Australia Report (2000) report the position was put
that the only solution which could avoid the potential of cruelty
to pouch young would be to avoid shooting females altogether.
The
Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council ( NRMMC) made
it clear in the documentation accompanying its resolution that
any proposed revisions to the Code would need to be assessed for
both their animal welfare outcomes and the ability of the industry
to implement the changes, The Working Group discussed the issue
of whether it would be possible for kangaroo shooters to reliably
identify the SEX pf kangaroos in the field at night, at distances
as great as 200m and in situations with varying amounts of vegetation
or crops obscuring a clear view of the lower body of the kangaroo.
The
Working Group also noted that while professional shooters may
be expected to preferentially shoot male kangaroos since the larger
males generated a better return for effort, the harvests are not
always heavily male biased. It was noted by the Working Group
that as control of local kangaroo populations to reduce damage
to crops and grazing pressure on pasture is often one of the aims
of a shooting program, the removal of female kangaroos is a necessary
part of fulfilling that objective.
Acceptance
of the argument that kangaroos need killing because they compete
with sheep for grazing and to protect crops is deeply entrenched
despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary ( Dr Graham Arnold
CSIRO 'Can Kangaroos Survive in the Wheatbelt?"- 'The Kangaroo
BETRAYED!' ) .
Of course when there is money to be made from this free resource,
wildlife has no right to exist unless it pays its way. Other research
shows how integral to the fragile environment the kangaroo is
as regenerators of native grasses and how essential it is to the
ecological health of the land. Yet killing is put forward as the
only option. How stupid is that! The need to kill them is based
on a lie, a myth.. Time for truth.
The
extraordinary about face by Professor Gordon Grigg who wrote the
kangaroo industry's slaughter bible, 'The Commercial Harvesting
of Kangaroos in Australia" and is the reason the kangaroo
industry was established in the first place, says the damage done
on grazing lands by kangaroos has been overestimated by up to
500 per cent .
"
This means that kangaroos are a much smaller component of the
total grazing pressure than is generally accepted." And importantly
he concludes
" The hope of getting a significant improvement in wool production
by pest control of kangaroos is probably doomed to failure."
Zoologist,
Juliet Gellatley, VIVA! says " This is virtually the final
piece of the jigsaw that removes any justification for this barbaric
massacre of wild animals by a government which appears to care
nothing for its country's rich and unique inheritance." (
Slaughter of the Innocents - VIVA LIFE Spring 2002).
Respectfully
Submitted
Maryland
Wilson
President
Australian Wildlife Protection Council
247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Victoria 3000
www.awpc.org.au
Tel 03 9650 8326
Fax 03 0659 3689
kangaroo@peninsula.hotkey.net.au
