An independent wildlife expert has called on the state government to cull kangaroos in growth corridors before housing developments occur.
The latest RACV data shows Whittlesea is the highest-risk area for collisions with animals in Melbourne’s north, with kangaroos the most commonly impacted.
Bundoora-based Wildlife Rescuers say volunteers are called out daily to injured or deceased kangaroos in Whittlesea.
The state government’s Department of Environment approached wildlife management consultant Ian Temby earlier this year to prepare a report on how to manage kangaroos on city fringes.
Mr Temby said it was at the discretion of the government whether the recommendations in his report would be made public, but his personal view was that outer suburban housing developments were not appropriate places for kangaroos and the alternative to culling them was for the animals to end up as road- kill.
“My view is that, if you don’t cull kangaroos, you’re planning to have them mangled by cars,” he said. “It’s a terrible welfare situation.” He did not specify how many kangaroos should be culled. Mr Temby also wants councils to take greater responsibility for kangaroos’ welfare.
Wildlife Victoria chief executive Karen Masson said Mr Temby’s comments had been taken out of context.
“His point in context is that, on current statistics, more than 50 kangaroos are being cruelly slaughtered and maimed every day because there is no plan,” she said. “By comparison, a culling would be more humane.”
But Ms Masson said the wildlife organisation did not support the culling of wildlife.
“All animals have a right to exist, but we [humans] have the responsibility for finding the solution to harmoniously co-exist.”
Whittlesea and Hume councils require developers to submit a kangaroo management plan, prepared with the help of a wildlife expert, before any works begin.
The aim of the plan is to avoid land-locking kangaroos and, where this is impractical, to offer solutions that deal with their containment.
Hume council director Kelvin Walsh said these plans sometimes recommend kangaroo culls before construction begins.
But the council was not aware of this ever eventuating, he said.
Hume council rangers are trained to euthanase injured wildlife found on land or on roads controlled by the council.
Whittlesea’s rangers have not received training to perform this task. Volunteer rescuers or police are instead called upon when animals are found injured in Whittlesea.
