Defence kangaroo cull begins
Posted Fri May 8, 2009 3:38pm AEST
Updated Fri May 8, 2009 6:44pm AEST
The Defence Department says the 9,000 kangaroos on the site will be reduced to sustainable levels. (ABC News)
The culling of kangaroos has started on Defence land at Majura in Canberra.
Defence Department Brigadier Brian Dawson says contractors began the cull, in the presence of vets, on Tuesday and expect to be finished by July.
Mr Dawson would not confirm how many of the 9,000 kangaroos would be killed, but it is believed Defence wants to reduce their numbers to about 3,000.
"The culling is intended to reduce the overpopulation to sustainable levels," he said.
"The cull is being conducted humanely by licensed and experienced professional contractors, Defence is acting as a responsible landowner in order to assure the long-term sustainability of the environment of the Majura training area."
He says there are too many kangaroos on the site and requirement for the cull has been based on strong scientific evidence.
"The animals that have been culled are in a physically stressed condition."
The move, which was publicly announced this afternoon, has taken anti-cull protest groups by surprise.
The groups have accused the Department of trying to head off protests by beginning the cull in secret.
Nine people were arrested when about 500 kangaroos were culled on another Defence site at Belconnen last year.
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