Epping kangaroo cull sparks fight between wildlife advocates, state government

“WILDLIFE warriors” have taken their kangaroo cull fight to the Supreme Court after unveiling plans to shoot hundreds of kangaroos trapped in a fenced-in Epping site.

Some of the 400 kangaroos faced with a cull at Epping. Picture: Rob Leeson.

THE Australian Society For Kangaroos has gone to the Supreme Court to save a mob of about 400 kangaroos sentenced to death in a mass cull at Epping.

A group of “wildlife warriors” has been guarding the mob since the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources launched the cull in August.

When wildlife officers moved in on August 25 to begin to shoot, 22 kangaroos died before more than 100 protesters interrupted the killing.

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Hundreds of kangaroos face a cull after being trapped in an Epping site. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Lisa Milligan from Wild about Wildlife is upset about the kangaroo cull. Picture: Rob Leeson.

The society claimed some of the kangaroos died breaking their necks and backs trying to jump fences when herded to a fenced-in site near Cooper St.

Pink ribbons have appeared on fences in protest and members of the group remain vigilant at the site.

The society, a registered charity which aims to protect kangaroos and wallabies from unnecessary suffering and killing, wants a freeze on the cull until its request to declare the kill order unlawful can be decided.

Society president Nikki Sutterby today said the kangaroos had been without water for more than a month after they were left locked out of a nearby wetland area following the failed cull attempt.

“This was a massive cruelty problem,” Ms Sutterby said. “They say they won’t relocate them out of concern for their welfare but they are happy to leave them without water for a month.”

Epping community members putting up pink ribbons on fences along Cooper St to support relocation of kangaroos rather than culling. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Ms Sutterby said the gate was finally reopened this week after the issue was taken up with the RSPCA.

The department issued its kill order claiming the kangaroos were suffering many health problems due to lack of feed because they were trapped on a 46ha block between the Hume Fwy and Cooper St, and were too ill to be relocated.

But this claim has been disputed.

Lisa Milligan, who runs a wildlife shelter at Lancefield, said the ill health claims were a lie so that people didn’t think the kangaroos were being killed for no reason.

Ms Sutterby said culling was the lazy option.

The society’s claim is against Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio and the secretaries of the DEDJTR and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Department, which was authorised by DEDJTR to carry out the cull.

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