| Kangaroo Farming
So serious are the problems of land degradation that the
federal Government announced that the 1990s is the 'decade
of landcare' - what a miserable failure that has been! The
kangaroo industry has taken advantage of the increasing public
concern over land destruction, arguing that soft footed kangaroos
do not destroy the sensitive landscape and so kangaroo farming
should replace sheep and cattle.
(This has caused disagreement amongst farmers as many will
not publicly admit the damage they have done to the environment
and others believe kangaroo farming to be unviable.)
This 'farm the wildlife' argument is appealing to some who
would like to see introduced species removed from the arid
and semi-arid zones. Even some 'conservationists', usually
concerned about wildlife exploitation are prepared to sacrifice
the wild status of kangaroos in the belief that it is a better
option than continued land destruction.
But kangaroo farming is not the answer to protecting the
environment.
All it will lead to is the kangaroo industry shooting yet
more wildlife and ecosystems being further destroyed. Valuing
animals in purely economic terms ignores their intrinsic worth.
It ignores their individuality and right to well being. It
also ignores their ecological worth. It is this attitude that
has led to one-third of the world's animal genetic resources
now being at risk.
Other species, when used as 'renewable resources', have declined
or become extinct. Even the fishing industry, with all its
management programmes, quotas and massive subsidies - and
knowledge of the damage it is causing by over exploitation,
has still reached crisis point, with half of the world's main
fishing grounds facing environmental collapse (12). Think
of any wild animal which has had a price tag put on its head
- cheetahs, whales, tigers, gorillas, chimpanzees, rhinos,
seals, exotic birds, Toolache Wallaby (extinct) and the danger
signs for the future of the kangaroo become clear.
The challenge is to save and preserve our remaining wildlife
- not to farm it or blast it off the face of the planet.
Kangaroo Farming is not commercially viable
Apart from the ecological and ethical debates, livestock
farmers will not give up sheep and cattle in favour of kangaroos
because it is not commercially viable.
As stated by the National Kangaroo Campaign (6), female kangaroos
first breed in their second or third year, after which they
produce a maximum of one offspring per year. Often mortality
of pouch young is very high and drought may stop kangaroos
breeding altogether. (Nature has worked out how to control
populations, without the intervention of humans, over millions
of years). A young kangaroo is dependent on its mother until
it is at least 14 months old and so cannot be sold as live
young.
Compare this rate of reproduction with sheep. Sheep, unlike
kangaroos can produce twins. Lambs are independent of the
mother within a few months and can be sold live. Sheep first
breed after
one year.
Kangaroos only produce two commercial products, meat and
skin. Both are one-offs and require the animal to be killed.
Sheep on the other hand are productive throughout their lives,
producing at
least one wool clip a year and meat and skin when they are
slaughtered. Furthermore, whereas lambs produce 20kg of meat
at 3 - 6 months old, kangaroos produce much less meat and
are too small to kill before 18 months old. Only about 10%
of a kangaroo is useable for meat - a large red kangaroo of
60kg will only result in 6kg of prime cut meat. The rest will
only be sold for pet meat or meat and bone meal.
In John Cameron's Recovering Ground, he concludes that the
kangaroo industry could only ever provide 0.5% of Australia's
current meat production (13).
Furthermore, anyone trying to care for kangaroos will testify
to the difficulties involved. Kangaroos suffer from e.g. post-capture
myopathy, lumpy jaw (a fatal and highly contagious disease
which is very hard to treat, meaning once contaminated an
area must be free of kangaroos for at least three years),
Coccidiosis and much more.
Post-capture myopathy is common and affects kangaroos after
a chase or handling. Kangaroos suffer greatly from stress
and an adrenalin rush can quickly kill the animal or may cause
deterioration of muscles and a slower death.
The inability of kangaroos to be herded, yarded, or easily
handled makes veterinary treatment and inspections difficult.
It also makes farming the animal very risky.
Diseases in Kangaroos
As stated recently by agricultural scientists: "The
recent series of diseases and mass mortalities in wild fauna,
and emerging disease of wildlife in Australia have demonstrated
the importance of wildlife disease as threats to biodiversity,
human health, agriculture and trade." (36)
It is possible that the weakened genetic pool due to continually
shooting the healthiest, strongest animals is responsible
for increased disease levels in kangaroos. Some examples include:
In October 1998 there was a major epidemic of an unknown
disease in northwestern New South Wales. The epidemic had
a sudden onset, a short duration of about two weeks and high
death rate. (37) Most animals were found dead, some had difficulty
rising and moved awkwardly. More mature kangaroos were affected
than young. The epidemic had drastic effects on the population.
Between 1998 and 1999 in the five affected areas, there was
a 42% decline in red kangaroos and a 46% decline in greys.
In the main affected area, there was a startling 72% reduction
in red kangaroos. (This did not lead to a reduction in the
quota for New South Wales for the number shot for meat.) Similar
types of epidemics have also occurred in Queensland in 1990
and 1999.
A widespread outbreak of blindness occurred in many thousands
of kangaroos between April and July 1994, and between March
and June 1995, in western New South Wales, Southern Australia,
north western Victoria and later, in December 1995 to April
1996 in Western Australia. Western greys were mainly affected
but also eastern greys, reds and euros succumbed - all species
that are commercially killed for meat. (38, 39) It is believed
that the outbreaks were caused by a virus (possibly the Wallal
virus) spread by insects but the factors leading to the epidemic
are unknown (38).
Parasites in Kangaroo Meat
Agricultural scientists identify a complete lack of "preparedness"
to cope with wildlife diseases in Australia (36). Indeed the
Federal Minister for Agriculture, Warren Truss, issued a press
release on
12 April 2001 stating that kangaroo meat does not represent
any health risks! However he has still not backed up this
statement with evidence.
Kangaroos harbour a vast range of parasites - many increase
with stress and crowding.
Speare et al (14) neatly sums up the problem:
"Both species of Grey kangaroos may be infected with
30,000 nematodes from 20 different species...
"A forceful advertising campaign will be required to
convince the consumer of the unique health benefits of Pelecitus
Roemeri (large nematode worm which in southern Queensland
infects 18% of M. gigantus, 6% of M. rufus and 22% of M. robustus...)".
Dr David Obendorf, Wildlife Veterinary Pathologist, Australian
Member of the Scientific Advisory Board to the International
Animal Health Body, Paris (Office des Internationale epizootes),
with 20 years experience in the parasites and diseases of
Australian fauna says:
"Kangaroos and wallabies can harbour a wide range of
parasitic bacterial, fungal and viral diseases and most of
the infections are inapparent (i.e. the animal looks normal).
Even meat inspection procedures are unlikely to detect some
infections unless gross lesions are apparent or samples are
taken for testing.
"Worldwide, it is well recognised that so-called game
meats are a source of infections for consumers, especially
when care is not taken while eviscerating and handling the
carcasses or when the meat is served undercooked or raw.
"In the last 25 years or so, of 35 new or newly recognised
infections in humans, 20 (57%) have been zoonotic in origin
- some trivial, some devastating to both the individual and
the community.
"In Australia, Toxoplasmosis and Salmonellosis are two
infections with public health significance directly related
to the handling, processing and consumption of kangaroo meat.
A recent food-borne outbreak of Toxoplasmosis caused acute
clinical illnesses in 12 humans and one case of congenital
chorio-retinitis (inflammation of the eye tissue) in a new
born baby. The mother of the baby with the other 12 people
had attended a function at which rare kangaroo medallions
were served. A thorough epidemiological examination concluded
that the most likely risk food was the kangaroo meat."
Toxoplasmosis is caused by a protozoan parasite; symptoms
include fever, headache, weakness, muscle pains and liver
dysfunction lasting 1 to 4 weeks. The cysts are killed by
thorough cooking, but survive in rare cooked meats. As kangaroo
meat is often undercooked, chances of infection are greater.
A recent scientific report from the International Health
Organisation warns that wild animal meats which are raw, undercooked,
dried or cold-smoked are potentially infectious to animal
or humans that eat them.
Dr Obendorf states: "The concern is that chefs recommend
cooking methods which would not kill this {Toxoplasma} parasite."
(22)
He continues: "I know of no comprehensive or recent
serological or direct parasitic survey of kangaroos for Toxoplasma
prevalence. It would seem very necessary that Australian authorities
can reassure 'roo meat consumers about the safety of this
product. Toxoplasma is one defined public health risk associated
with game meat from Australia. In addition there is no data
available to assess whether these free-ranging pseudo-ruminants
(i.e.macropod marsupials) are likely to have any transmissible
spongiform encephalopathy conditions.
"In the case of Toxoplasma, the 'absence of evidence'
of disease freedom, - in itself is concerning, as importing
WTO member countries should be requiring the 'evidence of
absence' before permitting this meat to be made freely available
or stipulating that (1) meat undergoes processing measures
to kill this organism through freezing for a defined period
of time and/or (2) labelling the meat with a warning and providing
precise cooking instructions to customers. This should be
a basic requirement for minimizing the food-borne risk against
Toxoplasma infection." (35)
Australian doctors in 1997 warned of a new threat to human
health from eating kangaroo meat. Two victims have been identified
and one, a Tasmanian man, suffered a mysterious illness for
many years before eventually being placed on a ventilator.
He was unable to stand and was losing his power of speech
before the parasite was detected. (The nematode worm inhabits
muscle cells making it very difficult to detect.)
Dr Erika Cox, clinical microbiologist at Launceston General
Hospital, said: "Laboratory tests suggest a new species
of microscopic worm is responsible." She added: "People
who eat kangaroos and wallabies are at risk of all kinds of
parasites that are not normally studied because they don't
occur in livestock."
Professor John Goldsmid, medical microbiologist at the University
of Tasmania, claims that the cases illustrate how little is
known about the potential for 'native' animals to infect humans.
He also questions the safety of exporting 'native' meats from
Australia to countries such as the UK and maintains that further
research is needed. He stressed that the trend to undercook
kangaroo involved "probable dangers". (15)
Dr Obendorf says: "Australia has no dedicated research
or diagnostic facility to investigate wildlife diseases. Detections
of new diseases are handled on an ad hoc basis by government
or university laboratories".
Some states of Australia rejected kangaroo meat for many
years because of lack of hygiene and control in the killing
of these animals. In fact in most states it only became legal
to sell kangaroo meat for human consumption in 1993!
One in two kangaroos may harbour Salmonella (16). Killing
in the outback and the time delay between processing and cool
storing is obviously a problem for bacterial contamination.
Shooters are supposed to carry out pre-death inspections -
monitoring the movement of an animal to determine if there
is any apparent indication of sickness. Shooting animals at
night requires them to be static, transfixed by the spotlight
so any such inspections are impossible. If the animal is ill
and the meat becomes fervered after death, the dark colouring
of kangaroo meat ensures there are few visual indications
of the condition.
Because of the many external and internal parasites, kangaroos
killed between sunset and sunrise are supposed to be placed
under refrigeration within two hours of sunrise. Shooters
often travel long distances for their night's kill and in
summer there are few hours of darkness. Again there is no
monitoring of this regulation and no supervision that can
reject meat delayed through mechanical breakdown or from vehicles
which have become bogged down. The whole process of regulation
is worthless.
As Wally Curran, Secretary of the Australian Meat Industries
Employees Union stated:
"The only thing game about kangaroo meat is that you
would need to be game to eat it."
The Future: Tourism?
It is tragic that some people need to put a commercial value
on wildlife. They have no true appreciation or understanding
of the natural world and are intent on destroying it. They
feel the world belongs to them; that they have the right to
kill other species because it gives them pleasure, a rush
of power and money - or because of sheer ignorance. Any pretence
that killing kangaroos is to "prevent extinction"
or to "control pests" is simply an attempt to gain
public and media acceptance. However, the kangaroo industry
is not a benign force - it is destructive, cruel and brutal
and responsible for the worst land wildlife massacre this
planet has seen.
It is ironic that if you do accept that wildlife can be valued
monetarily, then kangaroos are worth more alive than dead.
Stafford Smith (1994) has shown that the value of mining and
tourism in the Australian rangelands far outstrips pastoralism
and the relatively paltry income from killing kangaroos. Dr
David Croft, School of Biological Science, UNSW, says: "International
nature-based tourism had a value to Australia of $6.6 billion
in 1995. More than half this expenditure was in national parks".
Despite the almost complete lack of promotion of a great wildlife
experience in the Australian outback, tourists spent $343
million in 1995 on outback safaris (the kangaroo industry
is worth $200 million in 2001 - less if you take into account
subsidies). Croft says: "many an outback tourist will
lament that of the few kangaroos they saw, the majority were
roadkills." (43)
Dr Croft compares the poor promotion and development of wildlife
safaris in Australia with the excellent profile of South Africa.
He contrasts Sturt National Park, western New South Wales
with the Kalahari-Gemsbok Park in S Africa/Botswana. The climate
and landscape of both parks are similar with low rainfall,
hot summers, ephemeral rivers, dune fields, pans and stony
plains. (43)
Croft maintains that poor marketing and development of wildlife
tourism in Australia means that while the Kalahari-Gemsbok
Park enjoys 48,000 visitors with large annual growth since
the release of Nelson Mandela and changes in the political
system, Sturt National Park has 12,000 visitors. Croft argues
that dingoes should be reintroduced to Sturt to help restore
biodiversity and provide the drama of predation, and that
the variety of mammals (especially kangaroos), reptiles (46
species) and birds (150 species) would attract many more visitors
if managed correctly. He says: "We should emphasise our
assets. Kangaroos have a body form unlike any other mammal.
A European or American visiting Africa sees antelopes which
share the same form as familiar deer, sheep and goats. In
contrast, the hopping locomotion, the bipedal stance endowing
the kangaroo with human-like behaviour and the joey in the
pouch will leave international visitors entranced." (43)
Croft lists the benefits of such a strategy where wildlife
is admired and respected, rather than blasted to bits. They
include countering the extensive criticism worldwide for needlessly
killing wildlife; recognising the intrinsic worth of kangaroos
and Australia's exceptional wildlife heritage before it is
too late; sustaining large populations of kangaroos as desirable
and valuable; adding to the economic value of tourism; restoring
biodiversity and expansion of protected areas; generating
economic activity in rural communities.
Croft says: "Australia is perhaps the only country which
is capable of maintaining large protected and wilderness areas
without strong human population pressures on their boundaries.
We cannot lecture other nations about maintenance of habitat
and biodiversity if we, with the best possible circumstances,
cannot get it right. It is time to show leadership and innovation
on the world stage." (43)
Viva! concludes
Throughout human history, massacres of animals have taken
place for pleasure or monetary gain. Each and every one of
them, from the harpooning of whales to the shooting of passenger
pigeons, the near annihilation of Africa's wildlife to the
hunting of otters, foxes and deer, has been justified, excused
and encouraged by those with a personal interest in the killing.
Their arguments have, without exception, been proved wrong.
Human treatment of the wildlife of this globe and the habitats
essential for its survival is a calamity. Those responsible
appear to have learned nothing from history and continue to
offer the same insupportable excuses for short-term commercial
advantage. The fate of the world's wildlife is increasingly
being determined by politicians and shop keepers who exclude
morality from their decision making.
Viva! has stopped 1500 supermarket stores from selling kangaroo
flesh nationwide. We believe that the British public does
not want the world's wildlife to be massacred for meat or
skin. However other countries are importing the flesh and
skin of these beautiful creatures. If this trade becomes further
established, no wild animal will be safe. It is time for those
with vision and compassion to work within Australia and in
the countries that import kangaroo meat and skin on a concerted
consumer campaign to stop the trade for good. Viva! will play
its part, you can too!
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