140 eastern grey kangaroos have been shot days before race car drivers take off during Australia’s famous motorcar race. The annual V8 Supercar Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 race takes place October 8 through 11, 2009, at the Mount Panorama race track.
According to reports, the Bathurst Regional Council approved the kangaroo cull in order to ensure the safety of the drivers and spectators. The unpublicized cull was carried out under license from the New South Wales (NSW) National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Animal rights activists and environmentalists are outraged. Many of the culled kangaroos may have had joeys in their pouches at the time. The New South Wales Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said in a statement, “’The slaughter of 140 kangaroos and their joeys… for the sake of a motorcar race is a knee-jerk response that is not justified.”
Environmentalist Ray Mjadwesch said, “’It is ironic that Australia’s iconic wildlife has been shot and its young disposed of in preparation for an iconic international car race,’ he said, adding that fencing could have been erected to keep the animals out.”
But according to Mayor Paul Toole, other methods could not have been used due to the growth of the kangaroo population.
Several years ago, a kangaroo hopped onto the track and was filmed weaving in and out of the cars before escaping. Three years ago, a kangaroo was struck and killed in the race.
Eastern Grey Kangaroos
Eastern grey kangaroos, Macropus giganteus, are the heaviest marsupial in the world. Joey’s normally stay in its mama’s pouch for up to 11 months. The average lifespan of an eastern grey in captivity is 25 years while the average lifespan of the kangaroo in the wild is eight years. Eastern grey kangaroos are quite social and tend to live in small groups.
Eastern grey kangaroo photo Fir0002/Flagstaffotos
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