Australia’s leading kangaroo scientist has
urged more culling to prevent environmental harm.
The CSIRO’s
Dr. David Freudenberger yesterday said the 25 million-strong
kangaroo population was proof of their abundance.
"
Large kangaroo are now more abundant than before European settlement," he
said. British conservationists protesting against the sale of
kangaroo meat in supermarkets last weekend were not only ill-informed
but
actually threatening the welfare of kangaroos.
"
Culling kangaroos means a quick shot to the head while an end
to harvesting would condemn many kangaroos to a long, lingering
and
painful death," he said.
Vegetarian activist group Viva!
Has begun a new campaign against the sale of kangaroo meat
in Britain. |
It as organised protests against the big Sainsbury’s
supermarket chain, holding mock barbecues outside stores with
activists dressed s Crocodile Dundee or as kangaroos.
The activists
have accused Australia’s High Commission
of lying to the British public by overestimating the kangaroo
population
and underestimating the numbers culled.
Dr. Freudenberger said
kangaroo harvesting – shooting by
professions – supported a $120 million annual industry
and was environmentally friendly.
In some regions kangaroos were in plague proportions of up to
80 a square kilometre.
"
Integrating the kangaroo industry into Australia’s grazing
activities can ensure the survival of kangaroos, reduce economic
pressure on pastoralists and reduce the risk of rangeland degradation," he
said. |
Without human intervention, the only controlling
factors for kangaroos were starvation and disease."
Commercial
harvesting of kangaroos is a modern form of predation and eliminating
harvesting would significantly
increase the risk of overgrazing and degradation," he said. |
