Wildlife rescuers are demanding the State Government put a halt to the commercial killing of kangaroos as countless animals lie burned and suffering in blackened smoldering forests.
This year’s catastrophic bushfires have unleashed a fierce, fast-moving threat across multiple districts, forcing southeast brigades into action.
Hundreds of firefighters battled blazes at Longwood, southwest of Euroa, and Walwa, with Fire Rescue Victoria warning that conditions remain highly changeable.
Deployed to firegrounds, wildlife shelters and rescue groups say they are overwhelmed, working around the clock to care for sick, injured, and orphaned animals.
Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch said the wind, heat and risk of dry lightning will increase the risk for “unpredictable, uncontrollable and fast moving fires”.
“The last time that we saw catastrophic fire danger ratings in Victoria, across multiple districts, was on the 21st of November 2019,” he said.
“We know the devastating impacts that we saw in the east of our state during those 2019/2020 fires.”
Alyssa Wormald, President of the Kangaroo Alliance warned that half the state is on fire, yet this is apparently not enough to “trigger” their so-called “precautionary measures”.
“It really makes a mockery of the claim that they’re taking a precautionary approach,” she said.
“Despite the widespread fires and enormous wildlife death toll (and subsequent starvation), the government has not suspended the kangaroo shooting quota in any region.
“They are forging ahead with a target on the heads of 207,800 kangaroos earmarked for slaughter both through the commercial ‘Kangaroo Harvesting Program’ and the non-commercial ‘Authority to Control Wildlife’ permit system.”
Maldon wildlife rescuer Ian Slattery added:
“It’s unconscionable and cruel that kangaroo harvesters are still out there killing what remains of our precious wildlife elsewhere while thousands of them are dying slow, painful deaths on firegrounds right now.
“The government put numerous rescuers including me through advanced bushfire rescue training several years ago but refused to call us up or let us in, choosing to rely on departmental staff who are renowned for euthanizing everything.
“If the government had any decency it would call a halt to the cruel permission it gives to commercial harvesters who will be out there right now killing the few terrified kangaroos that have fled or survive in safer habitats.”
The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) states on its website that harvesting may be suspended or quotas reduced during environmental emergencies, including bushfires. Actions can include the immediate reduction of commercial quotas or a suspension of harvesting in affected zones.
However, a DEECA spokesperson said “it is too early to understand the full impact of these bushfires on wildlife including kangaroos, and any associated impact on the Kangaroo Harvesting Program.”
“There are still multiple warnings in place for fires across the state. DEECA along with other emergency services continue to respond to these fires,” the spokesperson said.
“DEECA has deployed accredited wildlife field assessment teams as part of its fire incident management teams to respond to wildlife welfare during the current fires. These teams search for and assess affected wildlife on and adjacent to the fireground.”
