Australian Society for Kangaroos volunteers to patrol Epping following department cull

A WILDLIFE activist group that interrupted a government cull of kangaroos in Epping has vowed to remain vigilant in the area.

Wildlife activists are vowing to stay the distance to prevent government officers from culling kangaroos around Epping in the city of Whittlesea.

A WILDLIFE activist group that interrupted and caused the abandonment of a government operation to cull 400 kangaroos in Epping last Friday has vowed to remain vigilant in the area.

ACTIVISTS FORCE HALT TO EPPING KANGAROO CULL

Australian Society for Kangaroos (ASK) President Nikki Sutterby said a team of local residents and volunteers will patrol the area 24/7 for as long as it takes.

“We’ll be out there indefinitely to protect our national icon from a barbaric, cruel and old fashioned way of controlling the population,” Ms Sutterby said.

“They [Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources] use cloak and dagger tactics in killing kangaroos because they know it’s a disgrace that the public won’t agree with.

“Rather than relocate the roos they want a quick and easy solution.”

The attempted cull began Friday evening between the Hume Fwy and Cooper St but was abandoned after the intervention of protesters.

According to reports, 22 Kangaroos were killed while many others fled onto nearby residential streets.

“It obvious they attempted to perform the cull in secret,” Ms Sutterby said.

“They chose Friday night when most people are having dinner or heading out for the evening because they didn’t want anyone to know what they were doing,” Ms Sutterby said.

ASK rallied support via their Facebook page after receiving an anonymous tip from an Epping resident who was “crying and distressed”.

Ms Sutterby, who didn’t attend the protest, said well over 100 protesters flooded the area.

A spokesman for the department said the eastern grey kangaroos culled had suffered from several health conditions.

“Prior assessment of the kangaroos showed that the population was suffering due to a lack of feed, which is continuing to decline and lead to health and welfare impacts,” he said.

“The population has been monitored monthly for the last seven years and is unable to be relocated due to their deteriorating health, the stress associated with handling and risk of spreading disease to other populations.”

“All other control or management options were exhausted including, fencing, relocation and fertility control.”

“The culled animals had evidence of injury, starvation and symptoms of diseases, including lesions, lumpy jaw and parasite infestation.”

The spokesman said the cull had been ceased early because the animal activists had raised safety risks for the operation.

“As a consequence the remaining kangaroos at the site will continue to suffer unnecessarily,” he said.

The attempted cull took place only days before the Whittlesea Leader revealed Wildlife Victoria stats showed 15 per cent of all reports of injured or endangered kangaroos in the last 12 months occurred in Whittlesea including Epping.

WV CEO Karen Masson said it was sad that the department’s only choice was to cull the roos.

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