"AGRICULTURE MINISTER KEITH HAMILTON ANNOUNCED THAT KANGAROOS
IN VICTORIA WILL NOT BE SOLD FOR THEIR MEAT AND SKINS; THE STATE
GOVERNMENT HAS DROPPED PLANS TO ALLOW THE COMMERCIAL CULLING
OF KANGAROOS" ( 'Herald Sun' September 21, 2002)
Dear Premier
Bracks and Ministers,
On
behalf of animal welfare advocates, wildlife protectionists,
and all Victorians concerned about the plight of kangaroos,
we sincerely thank you for ruling out the commercial killing
of kangaroos in Victoria. However, we caution that inappropriate
and destructive 'culling' practices can cause the collapse of
a species, from the constant erosion and loss of the gene pool
in populations that are too small. Dr Ian Gunn , Wildlife Gene
Researcher states, " The evidence is indisputable. If left
to continue, (it) has the potential to result in reduced genetic
viability, lower reproductive efficiency and a radical reduction
in the population density below sustainable levels in certain
regions."
We also
have grave concerns about the cruelty inherent in 'permit-based'
killing, currently permitted under the Wildlife Act. There is
no adequate policing or monitoring of this activity and Victorian
permit holders are not even required to demonstrate their ability
to accurately shoot kangaroos, and thus many will be wounded
and injured. The tiny in-pouch joeys are bashed or clubbed to
death (according to the legally unenforceable 'Code of Practice)
and the ex-pouch , but still dependent joeys, who are not even
mentioned in the " Code", flee in terror when their
mothers are killed, escaping to die from predation, starvation,
exposure (chilling, hypothermia ) and psychic depravation without
their dead mothers.
Recent media
statements indicate the 'fast-tracking' of virtually open-ended
permits to kill kangaroos being provided by DNRE officers, without
even 'property inspections'. To give such carte blanche to the
hyped up 'kill' sets a dangerous precedent and has frightening
ramifications for the survival of kangaroos. During drought
conditions the surviving strong animals will be crucial to the
long-term health of Victoria's population across their current
range (a key tenet of the NRE Kangaroo policy).
We fear
that Peter Ryan (National Party) and those in the opposition
parties will keep up the political pressure until they succeed
in wiping out the already low kangaroo populations in Victoria.
We ask that you consider some positive alternatives leading
up to the forthcoming election, and believe that such strategies
will assist to gain widespread voter support. For example:
- Create
wildlife corridors with unfettered access to habitat and freedom
of movement, in safety from the shooters guns. Our Kangaroo
Protection Coalition (with help from Steve Irwin who promotes
wildlife for tourism) seeks to link Central Australia, Sturt
National Park to Broken Hill, into the Mallee area and down
through Central Victoria for development of kangaroo nature-based
eco-tourism and retirism. In time, we will see the return
of other native birds and animals such as the 'dancing' brolgas,
plains turkeys 'strutting like Napoleon Bonaparte', all the
wonders of our unique wildlife.
- Buy
back marginal land providing the infrastructure in conjunction
with the other states and the Federal Government for eco-tourism
and retirism. Farmers that wish to do so, will stay on
as Rangers/Managers which would provide jobs in rural areas
and restore wildlife habitat.
Kangaroos
are internationally recognised as a key reason tourists visit
our country. Large mobs of wild kangaroos are what international
tourists want to see. They marvel at two males boxing for the
right to mate, and stare in amazement at little joeys poking
their heads out of kangaroo pouches. To see instead, kangaroos
dead on the side of the road, or hear of farmers killing them
each night, may lead to tourists believing we do not respect
and value our native wildlife. Instead, showcasing our wildlife
to the world could hold the key to rural employment, a thriving
tourist industry and the ecological health of the land .
We would
like to work with your Minister for Tourism and have already
provided this information to the Greater City of Bendigo [Councillor
for Development, Planning and Tourism, Justin Henny].
It was embarrassing
to read ('Herald-Sun' September 20th, 2002) that 'body parts
from Victorian kangaroos may soon be made into tacky tourist
souvenirs …and other ghoulish items made for the tourist
market include key rings and purses made from kangaroo scrotums'.
We are so very pleased therefore that your Government has halted
this opportunistic push to profit from our drought-stricken
kangaroos.
We therefore
now urge you to do four things:
- introduce
strict monitoring and policing of all kangaroo killing in
Victoria to ensure the survival of kangaroo populations
across their natural range
- immediately
investigate the kangaroo killing permit system which currently
allows terrible cruelty (wounding and barbaric treatment
of joeys), lacking control, even over the number of kangaroos
killed
- initiate
a planning process to create / link wildlife corridors and
to assist with infrastructure in rural areas to build a
tourism industry based on non-invasive viewing of our native
wildlife and;
- appreciate
that the soft padded feet and long tail of the kangaroo
are integral to the ecological health of the land as regenerators
of native grasses. It is destructive agricultural practices
on marginal land that have been shown to be unsustainable.
With sincere
regards,
Maryland
Wilson
President
Among
organisations in support:
Animals
Australia
Animal Active - The Australian Animal Rights Network
Animal Defenders Australia
Animal Liberation Victoria
Ballarat Organisation for Animal Rights
Friends of the Earth
Greendale Wildlife Shelter
Help for Wildlife
International/National Kangaroo Protection Coalition
Wildlife Care Network
Wildlife Care / Shelters throughout Victoria
