THE decision to grant commercial licences to a number of Bathurst residents to cull kangaroos has been slammed by an animal welfare group and The Greens.
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The White Rock residents have been granted licences from the Office of Environment and Heritage to cull kangaroos across Zone 49, which includes the region around Bathurst, Orange and Lithgow.
There is a fear lives will be put at risk.
“The known inaccuracy of shooters in the commercial kangaroo killing industry, ballistics science, and the immediate proximity of families on small acreages make for a disastrous mix of circumstance,” Animal Justice Party president Professor Steve Garlick said.
He also claimed the licences had been granted by the National Parks and Wildlife (NPWS) office in Dubbo, despite opposing advice from the Bathurst office.
An Office of Environment and Heritage spokesperson denied this and said they only issue licences “in accordance with the Kangaroo Management Plan”.
“The Bathurst NPWS has only provided advice on non-commercial licences,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson was unable to confirm if the family of rare white wallaroos recently discovered on Mount Panorama would be exempt under the licence.
“Commercial licensing is specific for species and zones,” they responded.
With a commercial kangaroo cull licence granted, the spokesperson said the “commercial harvesters” can operate across several properties, with the permission of the landowners.
Green MP and animal welfare spokesperson Dr Mehreen Faruqi said she was concerned about “inappropriate kangaroo culling licences”.
“The reports that residents may have been granted commercial licences to shoot kangaroos in Bathurst are deeply concerning,” she said.
“I have received a number of letters from concerned locals who are alarmed by reports of residents inappropriately being granted commercial licenses to shoot native wildlife.
“Our environmental laws exist to protect native animals and iconic species, such as kangaroos.
“We already know that the kangaroo population in the Mount Panorama area is at risk and should be conserved.”
Professor Garlick said he was also concerned about “extreme wildlife brutality” that has taken place in previous kangaroo culls in Australia.
“It is known that infant kangaroo joeys are ripped from their dead mother’s pouches and bashed or decapitated by commercial kangaroo killers,” he said. “The at-heel dependent joeys, once their mothers are killed, are left to fend for themselves to be preyed upon or die from hypothermia and renal failure.”