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Australia’s Department of Defence has authorised the shooting
of 40,000 kangaroos on the Packapanyul military base sited in
the outback of Central Victoria. It claims to be saving the
animals from extreme suffering and starvation but a spokesperson
indicated that the aim is to turn the slaughter, which began
this week, into a commercial venture. Currently, Victoria does
not allow commercial killing. The slaughter follows the heavy
promotion of kangaroo leather by Australian embassies and high
commissions and its use by sports shoe manufacturers such as
Adidas, Nike and Umbro in expensive football boots. Both David
Beckham and Michael Owen will have kangaroo skin on their feet
during the World Cup.
Australia has the worst wildlife record in the world and has
already exterminated half of all kangaroo species. Biologist
and wildlife lecturer, David Croft (University of NSW) has condemned
the shoot as has TV performer, Steve ‘Crocodile Dundee’
Irwin. Wildlife vet, Dr. John Auty, monitored the kangaroo population
around the army base for four days and said: “Most appeared
to be in good body condition and population density was a little
over two per hectare on the 46,000 hectare base. That is normal
density and poses no threat.”
British activist Juliet Gellatley - of the animal group Viva!,
which persuaded all 1,500 UK supermarkets to ditch kangaroo
meat - has twice visited Australia in recent months to co-ordinate
resistance to commercial kangaroo killing. This year’s
quota stands at seven million animals. She said: “It is
now open season to profit from Australia’s national symbol
when all the latest science shows there is no justification
for it. Kangaroo killing has been sustained by myths and greed
and now seriously threatens the long-term survival of the target
species. We in Europe are playing a part in this destruction
by providing a market for the products made from kangaroos.
The cruelty involved is horrendous, which is why the Defence
Department has refused to allow anyone to monitor this slaughter.”
Viva! has a dedicated website - www.savethekangaroo.com - and
is co-ordinating global resistance to Australia’s wildlife
massacre by targeting users of kangaroo products and consumers.
When the new football season begins, it will target sports shoe
manufactures and high street shops with the slogans - “Kick
the hooligans out of football!” and “Help end football
violence - stop killing kangaroos”.
“Human’s ‘management’ of wildlife has
been a disaster, whether fish, whales, tigers, elephants or
rhinos. The same decline threatens kangaroos because the kill
is perpetuated on lies and self interest. Will we ever learn?”
concludes Ms Gellatley”.
For more information, stills or video footage of kangaroo killing
or Viva!’s 40-page report, contact Juliet Gellatley or
Tony Wardle on 01273 777688. |
