CANBERRA, Australia - Australia's army has started shooting 6,000 kangaroos to thin their population on an army training ground near the capital, an official said Friday, outraging conservationists who have vowed to protest.

The killings are intended to protect endangered plants and insects that share the grassy habitat with the kangaroos.

The uncontrolled population has overgrazed the Majura Training Area to such an extent that a report suggests up to 5000 eastern grey kangaroos have starved to death.


The Canberra Times understands Defence Department land managers are demoralised no action was taken after they reported to Defence that it needed to manage the population.

In 2008, Defence contracted the culling of 514 kangaroos at its Belconnen Naval Transmission Station.

Defence and the ACT Government said the cull was needed to protect native grassland and threatened species on the site, and to prevent the kangaroos from starving. It took place almost a year after Defence concluded overgrazing was a problem.

ACT RSPCA chief executive officer Michael Linke said the RSPCA was disgusted that Defence had allegedly allowed animals to starve if the report proved correct.

''To think that Defence have allegedly allowed kangaroos to starve is reprehensible. It borders on mismanagement and incompetence,'' Mr Linke said.

''If Defence have allowed that, despite the advice and information that we've provided them in the past two years, it just shows a total lack of regard for animal welfare.

Originally posted by ModernAcademia


What is this a joke? 6,000 Kangoroos? Why can't they just move them to another habitat instead?
Why not ask other nations if anyone would like some donations to zoos?

But no, instead just shoot SIX THOUSAND OF THEM?

What did they do, have a 40 second meeting to decide what the worst possible route they could take to take control of the alleged situation?

I realize that there's a situation in Australia but to think that there's no other route to take other than a massive slaughter is crazy.

www.msnbc.msn.com
(visit the link for the full news article)