Media Release

22 July 2004; immediate use

Australia Massacres its National Symbol on the Capital’s Doorstep

Campaigning animal welfare group Viva! has condemned the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government’s decision to shoot up to a thousand kangaroos at the Googong Dam wildlife reserve, outside the nation’s capital Canberra, as barbaric, unnecessary and hypocritical.

A logo featuring the iconic kangaroo fronted Australia’s recently launched push for visitors with a $360 million (Aus) promotional campaign.

The shooting was ordered after fears that water at the dam may become contaminated by the kangaroos, which have been forced to seek new water supplies after a crippling drought. Commercial shooters, with a government-issued permit, began the cull Sunday at night, when kangaroos are most active, and have already killed around 100 kangaroos with the carcasses likely to be processed for pet food.

The shooters have been instructed to shoot female kangaroos in order to reduce the population. At this time of year female kangaroos have a baby in their pouch - so for each female killed a ‘joey’ is also killed. Joeys are killed either by decapitation or by being bludgeoned to death.

Australian animal rights protestors have held protests at Googong Dam, and are at present acting as human shields in an effort to disrupt the killing. Welfare groups have suggested alternative methods to protect the water supply, such as fencing off the dam, but these have been dismissed by authorities. The ACT Government has also been accused of stalling on an offer by a local wildlife rescue organisation to relocate up to 60 orphaned joeys.

Animal Liberation ACT is planning to bring the carcass of a joey which it claims was bashed to death at Googong to the office of ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope today.

Viva! campaigner, Justin Kerswell, says: “The tragic events at Googong Dam are sadly indicative of Australia’s appetite for destruction as far as its native wildlife goes. Each year millions of adult kangaroos are shot in the outback for their meat and skins in the largest wildlife massacre in the world today. The only difference here is that the slaughter is happening on Canberra’s doorstep, in full view of the world’s media.

“Even then, it is incredible that the Australian Government seems to hold its national icon in such contempt that they will allow the massacre of these gentle marsupials and their babies in a wildlife refuge. The brutal deaths of these joeys are as sickening as the clubbing of baby seals in Canada - and just as indefensible. Unbelievably, Australia promotes itself using the image of a kangaroo – whilst in the ultimate betrayal clubbing and blasting them off the face of the earth.”

Notes for Editors: Images of kangaroos and kangaroo shooting are available from Viva!.

Contact: Justin Kerswell on 0117 944 1000

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