Canberra Kangaroo Killing Capital

In the past three years the ACT government, often in collusion with the Australian Defence Department has killed 10,000 kangaroos and their joeys in the ACT. Here's a quick chronology of the horrible events.

IS IT THE END FOR CANBERRA'S KANGAROOS?

On Thursday 2nd June 2011 the ACT government announced that it will be shooting 3427 kangaroos and their joeys in seven Canberra Nature Reserves including Mulligan Flat, Goorooyarroo, Mount Painter, Callum Brae, Jerrabomberra West and Kama Nature Reserve.

3427 kangaroos represents 75% of the total estimated kangaroo population in the Canberra Nature Reserves and will total around 5000 kangaroos being slaughtered including pouch and at-foot young.

The reasons for the massacre according to ACT government representative Daniel Iglesias are:

"The numbers that we've calculated this time are based on sitting back and thinking how many kangaroos can these areas sustainably manage so that we can have a healthy population of kangaroos, but also healthy populations of other animals,",(ABC 666 Radio,2/6/11)

This years kill adds to a total of approximately 13,000 kangaroos and their joeys destroyed by the ACT government on public and defence land in the ACT in just three years.

However despite the publication of a 182 page Kangaroo Management Plan by the ACT government, they have failed to produce any credible science or data to support this killing.

With 75% of the total estimated population now destroyed in Canberra's parks and reserves, Australian Society for Kangaroos along with other wildlife groups and experts have grave concerns for the future conservation of kangaroos in these reserves.

According to kangaroo behaviorist Professor Steve Garlick, the kangaroo is headed for complete eradication in the ACT as a result of the government's annual killing programs:

“Using the ACT Government’s own data, and applying our intelligence about kangaroo fertility, development and morbidity, as well as the likely myopathy impact of the shooting, accidents and attacks, the residual 0.534 kangaroos per hectare the Government is aiming for in its current program of killing will mean kangaroo numbers in the six ACT reserves will never recover and will dwindle away to nothing over a surprisingly short time. In ten years I estimate there will be barely a few hundred kangaroos in total remaining in the ACT, assuming no more killing programs. As numbers continue to fall, other kangaroos will not migrate to the reserves from elsewhere, as poor planning has meant these reserves are fenced in, or bounded by major roads and suburbs”, said Professor Garlick.

Belconnen Naval Transmission Station, May 2008

In 2008 the Defence Department in conjunction with the ACT government killed 519 kangaroos and their joeys in a barbaric and horrific manner at Belconnen Naval Transmission Station (BNTS) in the suburbs of Canberra. These gentle creatures were herded into the funnel-shaped killing pens in searing heat and killed by lethal injection. Scenes of this brutal act were shown all around the world bringing condemnation and despair from the local national and international public. They claimed the kangaroos were threatening endangered species and that their relocation would be cruel and expensive. It was later discovered that Australia Zoo and Wildcare offered to relocate the kangaroos at cost for around $300,000. The cost of killing was $1,000,000. In 2010 the ACT government excavated the BNTS site in preparation for a housing development.

Kangaroos panicking as they're being herded into killing pens at BNTS (left), while another attempts to jump the high fence to avoid death in the pen (right), May 2008

Majura Military Base, June 2009

In May 2009 a court found that the native grasslands alleged to be under threat by kangaroos at the Majura Defence Base were in fact behind a kangaroo proof fence. The Administrative Appeals Tribunal carried out an injunction and suspended the killing of between 7,000 and 9,000 kangaroos for four weeks, until a full hearing allowed the slaughter to continue. Despite claims made about starvation, overgrazing and kangaroos being a threat to grassland native species, to this day no evidence has ever been provided to support these claims. It is believed that almost the entire population of kangaroos were destroyed at the Majura Military Base.

Canberra Nature Parks, June 2010

In June 2010 the ACT government closed several nature parks in Canberra and killed nearly 2000 kangaroos and their joeys. The reasons given were that they were a threat to native grasslands and endangered species. Despite the publication of a Kangaroo Management Plan by the ACT government to support their ongoing killing spree, no evidence or research has been provided that supports claims that kangaroos are a threat to native grasslands or their threatened species.

Please find all media reports related to this issue in the MEDIA REPORTS section of this website.

You can lodge your protest against the ACT government and Defence Department's ongoing unnecessary destruction of kangaroos and their joeys at:

ACT Minister Environment
Simon Corbell MLA
Phone: (02) 6205 0000
Email: corbell@act.gov.au  
 
ACT Chief Minister- Katy Gallagher
Phone:(02) 6205 0840
Email: gallagher@act.gov.au
PM Julia Gillard
http://www.pm.gov.au/contact-your-pm
 
Tony Burke- Federal Minister Environment
 Tel: (02) 6277 7640
Email: Tony.Burke.MP@aph.gov.au

ACT GREENS
Phone: (02) 6140 3220
office@act.greens.org.au

FEDERAL GREENS
Ph: 02 6140-3217
greens@greens.org.au

LETTERS TO the EDITOR
letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au
news@chronicle.com.au

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THIS ISSUE
THE ASK TEAM