Stop kangaroo slaughter
I AM writing to ask readers not to fall for the nonsense
that eating kangaroo meat will help end global warming.
It is true that they produce fewer greenhouse gases than
cattle, but their population in Australia is in crisis and an
increase in the market in the UK for this "exotic meat" could
spell disaster for these gentle animals – and any trade that
encourages meat to be flown from the other side of the world
can never be described as green.
The annual kangaroo slaughter in Australia is the largest
massacre of land mammals on the planet. Each year, millions are
shot for their meat and skins. Baby joeys are bludgeoned, shot
or decapitated when their mothers are killed; the "worthless"
waste of the industry. Over-hunting and drought have ravaged
their numbers.
Australian Government figures show there are 33 million
fewer kangaroos in areas used for commercial hunting than seven
years ago – a drop of 57 per cent. Yet still the killing goes
on.
Viva! has long campaigned against the sale of kangaroo meat
and the revulsion at massacring the world's wildlife for food
has led to all major UK retailers dropping it. Australians, and
the rest of us, are better off throwing a veggie burger on the
barbie if we want to cut our carbon footprint.
Justin Kerswell Campaigner, Viva! Bristol
2 Comments
by Charles Henry, Somerset
Wednesday, August 20 2008, 2:00PM
“I received a message from a friend Sydney this morning Editor: . It went something like, "Kangaroo meat is 'Yummy' and it goes well with 'Emu', . And Crocodile!!" . . Of course I did tell them just how really sorry I was about their absolutely pitiful Medal tally.”
by Charles Henry, Somerset
Monday, August 18 2008, 2:27PM
“This is just the usual Viva twaddle. Read the following letter in the Western Daily Press today
"There is no chance of the kangaroo becoming extinct."
"AS an Australian living in Bristol, I was amazed to read that Justin Kerswell fully understands the kangaroo situation in Australia based on what he obviously read off the worldwide web.
In response to "Boycott this cruel trade in meat", yes, the information that he displayed in the Western Daily Press was accurate, with mass culling in Australia taking place, not for their skin or meat, but purely because they are a pest to farmers and are overpopulating every national park in the country which is having a knock-on effect to the rest of the eco-system.
With more than five times more kangaroos in Australia than humans, there is no chance of extinction. Do you really think the Australian Government would ever risk the extinction of our national icon and a member of our coat of arms to increase our exports?
I would encourage Mr Kerswell and the rest of the Viva! team to properly research their next campaign and not to force their ideas on to other people based on false information from a single viewpoint."
PATRICK CAPE, Bristol”