Row over record roo cull
By RENEE MICKELBURGH The Sunday Mail
20jan02
A RECORD 6.9 million kangaroos will be shot in this year's national cull - to the disgust of both conservationists and farmers.
Animal liberationists say the figure is too high. Farmers, however, say the Queensland quota - 3.8 million - should be increased by 2.28 million.
The Federal Government has increased the national cull target by 1.5 million kangaroos over last year.
Farmers lobby group Agforce expected a 6 million quota for Queensland alone.
Spokesman Brian Rutledge, a wool producer at Quilpie, said good rains and a lack of bushfires had led to a surge in roo numbers.
"In four or five years that (quota) hasn't been met for commercial reasons - there wasn't enough money in it," he said.
"We've been seeing more kangaroos. I live 64km out of town and saw about 400 when I was coming home the other night."
Agforce estimates that since 1990 Queensland kangaroo numbers have increased from 11.7 million to 37.5 million.
But Kangaroo Protection Coalition co-ordinator Pat O'Brien disputed the rural group's figures.
"We've been saying for many years their counting methodology is wrong," he said. "The reports we're getting from our people out west is there are not a lot of kangaroos around."
Animal Liberation Queensland president Kim Stewart said she was "disgusted with the idea of killing kangaroos". She said the calculation methods used for measuring kangaroo numbers needed to be reviewed.
"Our problem with the kangaroo culling is it's not based on good science," she said.
"The average age of a red kangaroo is now only two. They have to be older than that to be at the breeding age. In the long run we could see red kangaroos extinct."