Another roo cull. There must be a better way
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“Cull roos now to save rare grassland,” says the headline in the Canberra Times. The ACT’s Commissioner for Sustainability and Environment, Dr Maxine Cooper, goes on to list the evidence use to support this sentence of death by shooting. “They threaten rare grasslands in a critical condition” is the clincher. But these are native grasslands that have evolved with Eastern Grey kangaroos over millions of years — but can they adapt to shoddy science? “On advice from experts that I’ve had, the only humane way to reduce large numbers of kangaroos is through humanely culling.” Evidence from botanists no doubt, and this profession has form — a preparedness to endorse the killing of other indigenous species to protect plant “biodiversity”. In the mid 1980s botanists supported by other scientists propelled a campaign over a decade that led to the culling of thousands of kangaroos in Victoria’s Hattah-Kulkyne National Park. In that same decade, in Victoria again, permits were issued to shoot white winged choughs, a delightful bird that lives in family groups and had habituated to the mudbrick dwellings of the dry valleys behind Eltham. Here botanists said that these birds loved eating rare native orchids, (exposed by years of firewood collecting) and were “over abundant” because people had been feeding them. They had to be shot. Shooting white winged choughs was on the border of extreme, when putting wire over the rare orchids protects them to this day. A similar excuse is given by the ACT commissioner: “We want the kangaroos as part of the ecosystem, but because they no longer have any natural predators, hunting of them has been reduced and the area on which kangaroos used to graze has been taken up by urban development. You actually have to have the human in there as one of the predators and control the numbers of kangaroos.” Kangaroos have always had dogs as predators. Dingoes are not that common in the ACT these days, but their place has been more than taken by packs of domestic and feral dogs. Humans and their cars are also a significant source of mortality, as Dr Maxine Cooper states: “In the 2007-08 State of the Environment Report, Dr Cooper reported rangers picked up about 1000 kangaroos from roadsides as a result of vehicle collisions across the territory each year.” That number would increase if females carrying joeys are taken into account. They must be expensive panel beaters in the ACT — she also claims they did $7 million worth of damage to cars annually. This continuing academic assault on kangaroos seems to have a colonial twist — a deep seated insecurity with the Australian landscape and its animals. A need to meddle, to change and dictate and modify. Shooting the kangaroos doesn’t work well as kangaroos can always move in from elsewhere quite quickly if the feed’s good. Then they just need to be shot again. There are many threats to native grasslands and the animals that live in them. Apart from clearing for development, cats and domestic dog packs threaten what animals are left with little of the former cover while rabbits, hares, goat and even pigs pressure the grasslands — but it is the kangaroos again that are the target. Living with kangaroos is going to require more effort. Effective fencing, effective road crossing, slowing traffic, movement sensors to slow traffic down in time to stop, etc etc. They mow lawns for nothing, reduce fire hazards and attract tourists. To shoot them is a primitive colonial over reaction to native wildlife and the Australian landscape that we seem to be further from reconciling with than ever. Odd isn’t it. The over-abundance of other species — the feral pigs, hares, deer, goats, feral dogs and feral cats, let alone domestic and stock animals — are rarely, if ever, referred to. |
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10 Comments
“Odd isn’t it. The over-abundance of other species — the feral pigs, hares, deer, goats, feral dogs and feral cats, let alone domestic and stock animals — are rarely, if ever, referred to.”
Cuteness factor? Noone cares that they are being shot, so there’s no publicity. There certainly is negative publicity about shooting feral horses “SAVE OUR BRUMBIES!” Even deer “YOU”RE SHOOTING *BAMBI?!!”
Roo meat is good to eat, but requires some care in not overcooking.
This is article is an understandable but simplistic reaction to a sensible response to animal over-population. We have already gone through the debate in the ACT regarding the futility of relocation and other population management ideas. Over-stocked grassland leads to a dramatic shift in the biota. This is basic ecology. Kangaroos evolved with native grassland where they could migrate to other areas when grass became scarce. This free movement is restricted now by fences, roads and other artificial impediments. The consequence of this is that we need to manage the populations. Shooting is a very effective method. As others have mentioned, they can be an alternative protein source for human consumption. What is really needed is an active management plan, instead of lurching from over-population crisis to over-population crisis.
Cars and kangaroos don’t mix. There is no way kangaroos are going to stick to specific crossings. I have hit five kangaroos in my time in Canberra, with two confirmed kills.These encounters have been on a diversity of roads; bordered by sheep paddocks, nature parks, and urban back fences. None of these fences were high enough to keep a kangaroo from the road and it is impractical to suggest they be modified to do so.
While my wariness of kangaroos has no doubt improved, they still never fail to surprise where they pop up. For example, I have had a few near-misses on bike paths at night.
Despite all this I love the fact that my city is infused with a rich diversity of wildlife. We do need to find ways of living in Australia that does fit better with the country. In the meantime, I support the cull and I would also support an active, continuous culling program.
I add to my previous comments with the suggestion that sheep grazing for lamb and mutton meat and coarse wools, be limited to those countries with sufficient rainfall to support them and that those sheep breeders who produce the world’s finest fleece be supported in endeavours.
The ‘grazing’ and harvesting of the lean meat of the kangaroo will add to our high-level export trade, and reducing the need for suitable grazing crops for sheep would give enormous savings in time, money and agricultural products.
It seems like a win-win situation?
I should have re-read thaticomment again and called myself something else - especially as I Can spell but Can’t type
Yes thereis a better wya than culling - we should be ‘grazing’ and harvesting the kangaroo for the tasty lean meat, and supple skins for fine leather and suede
Darwin observed after he crossed the Blue Mountains in 1836 that ‘the cloven feet of sheep have already destroyed the native grasses’ - but nobody cared.
In this the diyest ‘continent’ on earth graziers should be encouraged to grow native grasses again - with no need for fertilisers or poisons - build high fences and cultivate this plentiful disease-free animal for our use.
Yes there is a better way - Lets cut our colonial ties, get fairdinkum about adapting to living in this dry nutrient leeched country and start farming skippy!!!! C’mon people it obvious. Kangaroos have soft padded feet and don’t produce methane as a byproduct of their digestive process so that don’t cause erosion or global warming like like their hooven, bovine friends. We just need some clever fencing ideas, train our cattle dogs to herd skippy and perhaps get the CSIRO to breed a skippy that can’t jump so high.
You don’t get out much do you Lionel?
I live in the bush, and have done so on and off in different places for 28 years.
The feral pigs are inland and I can’t comment on their numbers because I don’t know. I suspect there are not many.
The feral dogs and cats are in some pockets but mostly are a myth. Maybe far inland again?
There are some feral goat herds around but not as many as you might think. There are also a few hares and some bunnies but again surprisingly low numbers of both.
Yet there are hundreds of roos and wallabies everywhere. There are also lots of foxes around (they seem to eat bugs they dig out of the ground)
Also, if there are 1000 roos run over creating a repair bill of $7 million - thats only $7000 per car… thats pretty believable (I have hit roos and they really do break your car badly - even at speeds under 40km/h).
I agree with the posts above - its time to harvest the roos for meat and leather products.
Kangaroos have always had dogs as predators..??? Given that dingoes arrived in Australia around 3,500–4,000 years ago I don’t think this is very likely.
It’s just a pity in these recessionary times that their aren’t more youngsters able to get out for a shot and bring home some lean, cheap & fresh meat for the table.
As a mother, I found the immense suffering of the mothers and joeys during the massacre at Belconnen (culls are supposed to help suffering animals, not kill healthy ones) particularly hard to bear. Their maternal bonds are just like ours, and to see them calling for each other, with the little ones being trampled in the panic, just broke my heart. Some of the joeys were left without their mums and without food and water for days. Eventually they just gave up and allowed themselves to be pushed into the killing pens. We have to stop doing this to sentient beings if we are to retain any semblance of true humanity (kindness/mercy).
The males were also trying to protect the abandoned joeys and lead them away to safety. What is wrong with human males (and tragically some females) that they were happy to be cowards, sadists and bullies while the animals were setting an example of dignified, caring behaviour?
I appreciate grasslands and diverse ecosystems but the true threats to them in Canberra are development for houses, shopping centres, offices, roads etc. and the frightening drought. We don’t see all the ‘expert ecologists’ shooting bulldozers, or even lying in front of them, but they trash grassland more effectively than any kangaroo. Oddly enough, sacrificing all those kangaroos also hasn’t made it rain.
Grasslands and kangaroos have done a better job of harmonious evolution than all too many Canberrans are managing with the natural world. As, your article says, we have to find less primitive ways of interacting with Australia’s unique and precious flora and fauna before it is too late.