After feral cats, Australia to cull 2,000 kangaroos

After targeting to kill 20 million stray cats to protect the Night Parrot, Australia is now planning to cull almost 2,000 kangaroos. The aim of the kangaroo kill, beginning on Monday, is to control the endemic animal’s population.

To accommodate the culling, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) would close 10 reserves across the region. The fast growth of the eastern grey kangaroo's population is threatening the ACT. Actually, Australia had culled over 4,000 kangaroos to date as part of the country’s yearly measure, reports Marshalltown.

Daniel Iglesias, ACT’s director of Parks and Conservation, explains that if the government would not kill the excess kangaroos immediately, certain areas may suffer from complete degradation due to loss of vegetation. He stresses the target of the cull it to trim the kangaroo’s number to a sustainable population, not to eradicate the animal.

Anticipating protests, the government warned animal rights groups not to interrupt the cull, reports The Age. It would place warning signs at all entry points to the 10 reserves and surveillance cameras to detect illegal activity and ensure public safety.

Protesters have stated they would do everything to prevent the killing of the kangaroos. In April, a protester from Canberra was found guilty of disturbing the kangaroo cull in July 2015 by blowing a whistle to warn the animals of the presence of shooters.

Iglesias says unless the cull is delayed, the government expects to finish the task by end of July. He adds that scientists are developing fertility drugs for the kangaroos as an alternative measure to culling, but until the drugs become available in the coming years, annual culling is the only viable option left.