By Callum Ludwig
The leader of Victoria’s wildlife rescue service, Wildlife Victoria, has released an astonishing if unsurprising statistic about the suffering of a native icon.
Wildlife Victoria is recording a 55 per cent increase in gunshot wounding-related incidents in kangaroos in the four years since the introduction of the Victorian Kangaroo Harvesting Program in 2019.
Wildlife Victoria CEO Lisa Palma said kangaroos are being shot and wounded, often in the leg, abdomen, or jaw, and then left to suffer a prolonged and painful death.
“The increase in suffering we’re seeing inflicted through gunshot wounds on our iconic kangaroos and their beautiful little joeys is incomprehensible and simply unacceptable,” she said.
“The suffering of kangaroos under this program is immense, but we are also deeply concerned about the impact this is having on community members’ mental health and safety, and wildlife volunteers who are left to clean up the mess,”
“Wildlife Victoria once again calls on Daniel Andrews and the Labor Government to immediately end the killing of kangaroos for commercial purposes.”
The Victorian Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals in Hunting outlines that hunters must ensure a humane kill of an animal and a quick and painless death are likely before firing a shot or arrow, must be checked immediately to ensure it is dead and killed immediately if not and reasonably attempt to locate and kill a wounded animal if it escapes before hunting another animal.
The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) is currently conducting a scheduled review of the plan before an updated plan commences next year.
“Victoria’s Kangaroo Harvest Management Plan is currently being reviewed, ahead of a new plan to be developed by the end of this year,” a DEECA spokesperson said.
“To further inform and develop the new Kangaroo Harvest Management Plan, we have consulted with the community, and professional harvesters.”
The Victorian Kangaroo Harvest Management Plan (KHMP) allows landowners to engage professional harvesters to hunt kangaroos on their property, with harvesters then allowed to use the carcasses for commercial purposes., unlike the Authority to Control Wildlife system where landowners shoulder the responsibility.
Founder of the Victorian Kangaroo Alliance (VKA) Alyssa Wormald said 55 per cent is a horrific figure, but it is important to have data corroborating the anecdotal evidence that has long been reported by wildlife rescuers.
The unnecessary tormenting, killing, maiming and orphaning of our unique native species is an absolute disgrace. The cruelty has rightly subjected us to much international censure,” she said.
“I am very conscious of the suffering of traumatised residents and local wildlife rescuers. Whilst the kangaroo industry profits, it is the volunteer rescuers who are left to deal with the aftermath. They already shoulder an enormous emotional, psychological, physical and financial burden offering an essential service to the public, and now they must use even more of their time and money to euthanise kangaroos with horrific and totally unnecessary and avoidable injuries.”
Over 700 submissions were received from the consultation process of the DEECA review.
Ms Wormald said the VKA believe that the community was able to strongly convey the message that many Victorians reject this appalling wildlife trade.
“The Victorian Kangaroo Alliance strongly believes the only ethical and responsible outcome of the review is to permanently abolish the exploitation of kangaroos in Victoria,” she said.
