  Dear
Editor: I'd
like to challenge the sympathy vote for drought-affected farmers,
calling for more government handouts and destruction of kangaroos
and emus. Semi-arid regions where drought is a way of life cannot
support sustainable farming of any sort, so scapegoats need to be
found.
There
is danger in failing to recognise the threat to native animals such
as emus and kangaroos when populations are vulnerable and mortality
extremely high. The process of natural selection is most important
as wildlife surviving these conditions are the ones most suited
to Australia's harsh environment. Emus are now threatened with their
numbers down by over 50%.But what do farmers do? They shoot them
when times are hard.
Kangaroos
and emus are the scapegoats for Australian subsistence farmers who
blame them for land degradation but are doing little to help our
balance of payments, create rural employment, or solve rural environmental
issues. Yet we have barely scratched the surface with promoting
kangaroos and other native animals to international tourists.
It
is a crisis time for our native animals. Who ever thought emus could
be treading that uncertain path to oblivion?
Sincerely,
Maryland Wilson
President
03 59 788 570
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