Stop the ACT Government and the Defence Force culling more than 3000 kangaroos from defence sites

The ACT Government and the Defence Force want to cull more than 3000 kangaroos from two defence sites.

The ACT Government and the Defence Force want to cull more than 3000 kangaroos from two defence sites.

The Government and Defence say the cull is necessary because of overgrazing and the risk of kangaroos starving. However,  ACT Animal Liberation president Mary Hayes said that another cull would burden the ACT with a worldwide reputation for cruelty.  She also said there was no evidence kangaroos were likely to starve.  "It is a very cruel, violent way to treat animals, on a par to just treating them as if they were weeds to be mown or pulled out," she said on ABC radio.   "This is going to produce an enormous reaction, not only amongst animal welfare groups but amongst the general population who will react very strongly to it."  She added, "It is going to give the ACT a reputation for animal cruelty throughout the whole of Australian, and indeed the rest of the world." Under the planned cull, 2800 eastern grey kangaroos would be shot on the Majura Training Area, a defence firing range complex outside Canberra.   Another 1000 would be shot at the former naval radio transmitter site in the Belconnen area of northern Canberra.  If approved, culling would be done by licensed approved shooters. Carcasses would be buried on site. Queensland Kangaroo Protection Coalition activist Pat O'Brien, arrested in protests at the 2004 cull, said "This is just an excuse to kill them."  He added, "In fact, it's unlikely there's 2800 kangaroos in the whole of the ACT. There are a few dodgy figures here."