Wildlife advocates call to halt Victoria’s kangaroo cull amid fears of Grampians bushfire death toll

The devastating bushfire in Victoria’s west has prompted a call from wildlife advocates to halt the state’s annual kangaroo cull.

Wildlife advocates are calling for a halt to the state’s kangaroo cull amid fears of a large number of native animal deaths in this week’s bushfires in western Victoria.

The Victorian Kangaroo Alliance said it was difficult to gauge the number of roos lost in the blazes that have scorched more than 74,000ha of bush around the Grampians.

The group said the state’s Kangaroo Harvesting Program should be suspended immediately until roo population numbers could be reassessed.

Wildlife advocates want a halt to the roo cull. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Alliance spokesman Mike Fuery is urging Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos to step in and halt the shooting.

“The current bushfire situation demands a more credible and meaningful response to protect populations and promote awareness of animal suffering in general,’’ Mr Fuery said.

The millions of animals killed in the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20 showed the large impact that natural disasters can cause.

The Grampians has a large population of roos, attracting commercial shooters.

But the night-time shootings has at times triggered an outcry from residents in nearby towns and properties.

Professional kangaroo shooters can harvest more than 100,000 roos every year in Victoria.

Mr Fuery said the annual Kangaroo Harvesting Program, run by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, had the ability to suspend the cull during or after emergencies.

A government spokesperson said the department was supporting the emergency response to mitigate impacts on wildlife.

“There is no commercial kangaroo harvesting in the Grampians National Park.

“Once it is safe to access fire grounds, wildlife field assessment teams will be deployed to assess impacted wildlife.’’

Wildlife assessment teams will be deployed to assess impacted wildlife when it is safe to access the fireground. Picture: Supplied

This year’s statewide commercial kill quota was for 111,575 kangaroos, with a quarter of those from the Lower Wimmera zone which includes the Grampians district.

The 2025 quota, which has already been set, is for 106,750 roos to be killed, including 22,700 from the Grampians zone alone.

The number of roos to be killed is based on about 10 per cent of the total population statewide.

Separate to the commercial cull, an estimated 80,700 kangaroos can be killed in Victoria this year under Authority to Control Wildlife permits which can be accessed by landholders or farmers.

Originally published as Wildlife advocates call to halt Victoria’s kangaroo cull amid fears of Grampians bushfire death toll