A STATE GOVERNMENT decision to issue a licence to kill eastern grey kangaroos has forced wildlife carers to leave an orphaned joey at Colac’s government offices.
Homeless roo falls victim to state policy
Carlisle River Wildlife Shelter’s Carola and Ron Anstis left an eight-month-old joey with milk, a bottle and feeding instructions at Colac’s State Government office yesterday.
3 Responses to “Homeless roo falls victim to state policy”
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This is so sad, but by no means the first time it has happened. In all previous occasions that I know of personally, the shelter has found out by chance – the sound of gunshots or the discovery of corpses – that their neighbour has a culling permit. No one, it seems, has the common courtesy or consideration to tell the shelter that their precious roos will be shot if they stray. Kangaroos are wild animals. They do stray, unlike sheep.
And what is far worse in my opinion is that the permit to cull (ATCW) can be granted without an inspection if the landholder has been given an ATCW previously. And, once granted, an ATCW can’t be revoked. The shelter operator has absolutely no power to appeal against it, assuming that they find out about it before the shooting begins,
The process is unfairly weighted in favour of the landholder and against the shelter. And why on earth would anyone buy a property almost surrounded by bush and a wildlife shelter if they hated kangaroos so much?
Those people who dedicate their lives and financial and emotional resources to caring for the innocent wildlife victims of human “progress” are should be supported in every way possible. Those who stamp their ownership on their land by immediately attempting to clear it of its wildlife may be difficult to consult with because of entrenched 19th century attitudes, but wildlife is not an asset that comes with property ownership to be disposed of at will. Biodiversity and animal welfare are concerns of a responsible community, and the actions of a Department responsible for wildlife should act in a transparent manner. All stakeholders must be allowed to consider all the evidence supporting any request to kill.
Killing of wildlife for research requires consideration by an ethics committee. Killing of wildlife for perceived profit or purported management should receive the same level of scrutiny.
How incredibly brave and heartbreaking for Ron and Carola Anstis, to have had to hand over a joey, knowing that the little orphan could end up in the hands of an untrained person to care for it. I could imagine the tears that Carola and Ron would have shed over having to do this. What is wrong with the world today when good and caring people are treated with such disrespect! There are countless cattle properties and so little number of wildlife shelters, so why can’t those shelters that exist be protected from shooters?
It is extremely hypocritical that the department who gave Ron and Carola their shelter license, is the same government body who is now permitting their neighbours to shoot their released kangaroos!