Australia to shoot 6,000 kangaroos

[David]

AP


CANBERRA, Australia – Australia's army has started shooting 6,000 kangaroos to thin their population on an army training ground near the capital, an official said Friday, outraging conservationists who have vowed to protest.

The killings are intended to protect endangered plants and insects that share the grassy habitat with the kangaroos. A much smaller slaughter of 400 kangaroos on another Defense Department site in Canberra last year was disrupted by protesters.

Civilian marksmen contracted by the department began shooting the kangaroos on Tuesday night at Defense's Majura Training Area, where an estimated 9,000 of the wild marsupials roam, Army Brig. Brian Dawson told reporters.

"The culling is intended to reduce the kangaroo population to sustainable levels," Dawson said, describing the action as that of a "responsible landowner."

The nighttime shooting is expected to continue intermittently until August. The training ground covers more than 7,400 acres (3,000 hectares) and includes grenade and artillery firing ranges.

Bernard Brennan, president of Canberra's Animal Liberation conservation group, said protesters planned to descend on the area starting Friday night and many more would flock from around Australia next week. He could not predict how many.

"We're not going to sit back and let it happen," he said.

The kangaroo slaughter follows a recent government environmental report that the common eastern gray kangaroos are too numerous in Canberra's parkland and grassland, eating scarce native grass which is the habitat of endangered insects such as golden gun moths and perunga grasshoppers.

The kangaroo overpopulation is also threatening endangered reptiles, the grassland earless dragon and the striped legless lizard, the report said.

Kangaroos are slaughtered to control population throughout Australia, but government agencies have been reluctant to kill the beloved national symbol around Canberra in the past 20 years because of public outcry.

[revwardoc]

If the Aussie army is so anxious to shoot something, send them to Afghanistan.

[SuperScout]

Now,unwad your panties, laddie. Tis civilian contractors are doin' the whackin'. 'Smatter of fact, I think there are some Aussie lads in Afghanistan already.

[DeadlyDaring]

Originally Posted by revwardoc

If the Aussie army is so anxious to shoot something, send them to Afghanistan.

You guys cull the Bison
We have always culled the kangaroo, there are millions of them in Australia
But when you get tens of thousands of them in a small area ....then you just have to do something

We also eat the Kangaroo which is the leanest meat around and it tates bloody beutiful

Remember we in Australia are have a bad time with the continuous DROUGHT


Cheers
DeadlyDaring

[DeadlyDaring]

Originally Posted by revwardoc

If the Aussie army is so anxious to shoot something, send them to Afghanistan.

Australia has been in Afghanistan about the same time as the US has and we are still in Iraq

















Cheers
DeadlyDaring

[DeadlyDaring]

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.

Cheers
DeadlyDaring

[David]

God bless the Australian forces DD, glad you have our backs.

[revwardoc]

If 'roo meat is that tasty, and there are millions of them, why isn't there a regular culling? And why not ship some of the meat over here? 'Roo jerky might be pretty good, "Put another 'roo on the barbie!" 'Roo; the other white meat! You'll never "'roo the day" you tried 'roo!

You guys down under are missing out on a great advertising campaign. DD, you don't have to get un-'roo-ly about it.

[DeadlyDaring]

Originally Posted by revwardoc

If 'roo meat is that tasty, and there are millions of them, why isn't there a regular culling? And why not ship some of the meat over here? 'Roo jerky might be pretty good, "Put another 'roo on the barbie!" 'Roo; the other white meat! You'll never "'roo the day" you tried 'roo!

You guys down under are missing out on a great advertising campaign. DD, you don't have to get un-'roo-ly about it.

We do everything above you say revwardoc but I suppose Roo is against your religion like pig is with Muslims Ha!

[SuperScout]

If you would just let a couple of us Texans down there, we could show you how to really bbq the meat - actually we just smoke it - and even a yankee would think it as a gourmet meal!! As far as the portestors are concerned, they too would make great moving targets!