Activists interrupt planned cull of 400 kangaroos at vacant land in Epping

WILDLIFE warriors have interrupted a government operation to cull 400 kangaroos in Epping, with government officers abandoning the plan after the activists arrived.

Kangaroos at the edge of vacant land in Epping. Picture: Helen Round

WILDLIFE activists have interrupted a government operation to cull 400 kangaroos in Epping over the weekend, with government officers abandoning the plan after the protesters arrived.

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Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources exterminated 22 kangaroos on Friday night on land between the Hume Fwy and Cooper St.

But the department was forced to abandon plans to cull as many 400 kangaroos on the night, after activists arrived.

Helen Round said her fellow activists had been forced to stop wild kangaroos running on to the freeway after they fled the sound of gunfire.

“We had to stand there on the side of the road and shoo them away from oncoming traffic,” she said.

“There’s been a population living at the site for a while now and it’s awful to see them resorting to culling rather than a viable relocation strategy.

“They came to do it under cover of night when no one would see them do it.”

Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources exterminated 22 kangaroos on Friday night on land between the Hume Fwy and Cooper St. Picture: Carmelo Bazzano

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.

“Kangaroos have been killed by traffic regularly over the last few years on nearby roads, posing community safety concerns.”

“The cull was carried out by a company which specialises in safe, humane and efficient animal control.

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

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