THERE are two clear sides of the debate surrounding kangaroo population control in Bathurst’s Mount Panorama precinct, and never the twain shall meet.
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On one side of the argument are the residents living near the Mount and the local racing fraternity who see their own properties being damaged by large mobs of ’roos and hold real fears for the reputation and safety of racing on the Mount should kangaroos make it on to the track.
On the other side of the debate are conservationists and animal welfare activists who question the real need for further culls, citing data from the ongoing Bathurst Kangaroo Project that shows local ’roo populations are already in decline.
They also, reasonably, question the haste to issue licences before other means of population control have been properly explored.
Both sides are right, just as both are wrong.
The reality is, Bathurst has invested huge resources in the Mount Panorama precinct and the region’s economic strength is due in no small part to the success of the Mount.
That being the case, the Mount’s operators have a duty of care to all racers competing on the track to do what they can to prevent kangaroos posing a life-threatening danger.
If a cull is the best answer, then there can be no real argument against the issuing of licences.
But is a cull the best answer at this point?
If it’s right that the National Parks and Wildlife Service consulted neither the Bathurst Kangaroo Project nor Central West WIRES for advice on local populations before issuing cull licences, then an important step has been missed.
That makes the issuing of licences appear hasty and suggests a final decision had been made before a proper investigation had taken place.
We should never rush to shoot a native animal that is a real symbol of our country and takes pride of place on the Coat Of Arms. But nor should we underestimate the danger kangaroos can pose for racers on the Mount.
Pragmatically, human safety must be placed ahead of animal safety so the option of culling kangaroos must always be available.
But licences should only be issued after all other avenues have been explored and dismissed. That may not have been the case this time round.