[Greens-Media] Failure to cull hurts kangaroos and other species

[Manderson, Roland]

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ACT GREENS MLA DEB FOSKEY MEDIA RELEASE
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6 July 07


Failure to cull hurts kangaroos and other species

ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey is concerned that the Department of Defence
has abandoned plans to reduce the numbers of kangaroos on two of its
sites in the ACT.

"I sought and received the expert scientific advice prepared for the
Department of Defence and have consulted widely" Dr Foskey said today.

 "While I initially questioned the need to cull so many kangaroos, I
have formed a clear view that the ecological arguments for it are
overwhelming." 

"It is worrying that many people who are concerned about the welfare of
the kangaroos may, in fact, be prepared to let them starve in a false
understanding of what is good for them."

"We also need to broaden our range of caring - so that lizards and
insects are not left out of our sight in favour of furred creatures more
like us."

"Some decisions are difficult to make, both politically and for fear of
doing harm - but in this case, it seems that shooting may have been the
kindest and swiftest option."

"At the end of this period of hand-wringing, we still have the original
problem we were confronted with in May; two months have passed and now
we are told that it is too late."

"More likely it was too political in an election year."

"But we have a responsibility to manage our native grasslands
sustainably too, and to ensure the survival of the earless dragon and
legless lizard."

"I think that the ACT Government, along with other major land managers
in the ACT, should sit down and work out a sustainable management plan
for kangaroos."

"Everything should be on the table, including consideration of our
restriction against allowing a certain number of kangaroos - decided
from year to year with the emphasis on the well-being of the animals and
the sustainable level of their numbers - and setting up a sanctuary,
perhaps on the Belconnen site, as a place where kangaroos can be seen in
their natural environment."

"We have to get smarter about this, seek expert advice and make
decisions on ecological and animal welfare grounds," said Deb Foskey.

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Roland Manderson   Media Advisor
ACT   Greens    MLA  Deb  Foskey  
Legislative Assembly for the ACT 
ph(02)62050551      m 0412241379
==== www.act.greens.org.au ===== 
  
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