Letters to Newspapers on Kangaroos
2026
July
During the first week of the kangaroo “cull” (2nd June), evidence was provided to the Conservator of Fauna and Flora indicating the ACT government’s contracted shooters, Strathbogie, were likely in breach of the Code for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies (non-commercial) by shooting in heavy fog, rain and gusty winds.
The Code stipulates, among other things, that shooting should not be attempted in adverse weather conditions as it could result in a misshot instead of instantaneous death.
This is because shooting in rain, thick fog, and gusty winds changes the trajectory of the bullet resulting in higher wounding rates that cause kangaroos to suffer in pain.
And this has been the standard of shooting throughout this year’s kangaroo “cull”, followed by an absence of pouch checks for baby joeys. The shooting activities for each reserve are overseen by an Operations Controller who is an ACT Government employee.
The evidence provided to the Conservator included witness statements, photos, videos, and BOM weather conditions.
Seven (7) separate animal cruelty reports were also sent to the ACT Chief Inspector of the RSPCA.
The Conservator’s response was to say “shooting takes place in all weather conditions” and declined to take further action. As for the RSPCA, with less than two weeks to go until the killing of kangaroos ends we are yet to receive an acknowledgement of our complaints.
May
I completely agree with Lottie Michaels (Leave Roos Alone 27 May) that we shouldn’t be killing kangaroos. However, I completely disagree with her blaming introduced species such as rabbits. The main driver for the loss of native wildlife is habitat destruction. Human activities such as land clearing, urbanisation and climate change are to blame. A 2025 doctoral thesis on Kangaroos in the ACT uncovered falsehoods by the ACT government about their “conservation cull”. It outlined, among other things the main reason for killing kangaroos is urban development. Suburbs such as Lawson and Googong were built after “culls” taking place support this finding as well as the proposed development backing onto Red Hill Nature Reserve again after “culling” began in 2022.
2025
2024
2023
Canberra_Times_Open_Letter_to_ACT_Government_from_ACT_Medical_Specialists_-May_2023
2022
An Open Letter to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Legislative Assembly – THE KILLING OF KANGAROOS MUST STOP – June 2022
2021
APA_Letter_to_Canberra_Times_re_Kangaroo_Meat_Nov_21
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
