Protect kangaroo family from ‘convenience’ killing – his life depends on it.

Plans are underway for 100 kangaroos – including mothers and their joeys – to be killed in Epping, Victoria, so that a new housing development can be built on their home.

The rapidly shrinking grassland has provided refuge for generations of these kangaroos. Surrounded by public roads, freeways and high-density housing, these native animals are being squeezed out of their habitat – and now, developers want them gone for good. The Victorian Government’s answer? To shoot them.

Many people are surprised to learn that native wildlife in Victoria can be ‘unprotected’ and killed with Authority to Control Wildlife (ATCW) permits. It is one of these permits that is putting this mob of kangaroos in the firing line.

Wildlife killing permits are not uncommon. Just last year alone, over 1,400 of these ‘convenience’ killing permits were issued in Victoria to allow the killing of 68,104 Eastern Grey Kangaroos.^[1] This is on top of the killing of kangaroos by the commercial industry, which profits from slaughtering them for their meat and skins.

Meanwhile, most Australians think that land should be shared with kangaroos.^[2] Killing native animals is no longer deemed acceptable. Native wildlife deserve better.

When developers commence projects on undeveloped land, ‘removing’ wildlife is a routine part of the process. To ‘remove’ kangaroos, shooting and killing them is the only option provided by the government department tasked with issuing ATCW permits. But many wildlife experts believe a kinder way is entirely possible, and that with expertise, time, and money, kangaroos can be translocated to a new area.

Four years ago, the Victorian Government approved the first translocation of kangaroos who were set to be killed at a development site, after a wave of community concern demanded better for them. Proposals by experts and wildlife veterinarians were submitted, but the government instead opted to manage the project internally. Sadly, many of the kangaroos died from various issues related to how they were moved, and the trial was labelled a failure. Wildlife experts have since appealed to the government to try again, this time incorporating past learnings and expertise to ensure a higher survival rate.

After all, a single trial is barely sufficient to take this kinder, lifesaving option off the table.

There are individuals and organisations in Victoria that are resourced and willing to invest their time and effort into exploring humane alternatives to killing kangaroos and joeys – including larger-scale translocations of animals. Experts are ready and willing to do whatever it takes to give wildlife the best chance possible. Precious native animals are worthy of being given this chance – they should not be killed just because it is ‘more convenient’.

It’s now up to the Victorian Minister for Environment to consider the increasing concerns of the community, utilise the experience of professionals who routinely relocate kangaroos, and green light a policy shift that better considers the future of wildlife.

Will you help call on the Minister and your local MP to explore a more humane solution for the kangaroos who are about to be killed under Victoria’s ATCW permit system?

Personalised emails have a greater impact. If you wish, you can use the following points to edit the email below into your own words:

• Most Australians do not want kangaroos killed for ‘convenience’ and support switching to non-lethal coexistence practices.
• The Minister should approve more trials of kangaroo relocations as an alternative to killing them.
• Future trials should utilise the skills of wildlife experts who have experience in successful relocations to give kangaroos and their joeys the best chance at survival in a new environment.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the team at Wildlife Victoria and their Travelling Vet Service,  for working tirelessly to protect these kangaroos alongside the community in Epping.  A very special thanks also goes to the devoted volunteers from Rescue Rehabilitate Release who have been vigilantly monitoring, rescuing, and caring for these kangaroos for many months. Animals Australia’s supporters will now join forces to do all we can to give them a kinder future. 

REFERENCES:

[1] Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action. (2023). Authorities to Control Wildlife: 2023. Available at: https://www.vic.gov.au/authorities-control-wildlife-2023
[2] Kangaroos Alive. (2023). Spotlight on Kangaroos: National Survey Report. Available at: https://www.kangaroosalive.org/surveyreport