Pademelons

Another massacre on Maria Island leaves me in despair. What is Tasmania doing to her wildlife? This is not a cull – a cull removes the weak and sick animals. This is an outright massacre of 600 beautiful native Australian animals, supposedly 'protected.' The people making this decision are government officials devoid of compassion for the individual animals so tragically destroyed and for the suffering of the people who love those animals.

Governments lie saying their 'cull' was 'sustainable,’ 'humane' and necessary as the animals were 'overgrazing' or 'threatening endangered species.' Nothing humane about bludgeoning a joey to death which is the 'humane' code of conduct for killing kangaroos. Nothing true about overgrazing or threatening other species either. And why is there never a non-lethal alternative such as fertility control or relocation? Does it cost too much? Another lie.

It cost the ACT government $500,000 to kill 514 kangaroos at Belconnen in 2008. Relocation by wildlife people would have been a fraction of the cost.

Australia is at war with its wildlife. We have the world's record of species extinctions having driven 38% of our native species extinct in just 230 years. 2010 is the Year of Biodiversity. Isn't it time we changed out attitude and learned to live in harmony with wildlife? Farmers, please educate yourselves about the value of native animals to the ecosystem and find non-lethal ways of excluding them from your crops while providing wildlife corridors for them to traverse the land they have inhabitated for millions of years. Replace deadly barbed wire with single strand wire and everyone else please drive carefully on the roads at dawn and dusk.

In the meantime I am cancelling my plans to visit Tasmania this year!

Please contact the following:-

The Mercury ~
http://www.themercury.com.au/opinion/letter-to-the-editor-submit.html
The Examiner ~
http://www.examiner.com.au/content/letterstotheeditor/

Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia
http://www.pm.gov.au/PM_Connect/contact_your_pm_form
Tel: (03) 9742 5800
Fax: (03) 9741 6213

Tasmanian Premier
http://www.premier.tas.gov.au/contact
Ph: 6233 3464
fax: 6234 1572
premier.tas.gov.au [email protected]

Tasmanian Minister Environment
Ph: 6336 2685
Fax: 6336 2640

Peter Garrett
T: 02 6277 7640 F: 02 6273 6101
Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts
PO Box 6022
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Email ~ http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/memfeedback.asp?id=HV4