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30 May 2002 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. |
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