As the ACT Government prepares to kill another 1,890 kangaroos in its nature reserves as part of their annual massacre, the real death toll from this slaughter may reach 3,000.

“Due to recent good seasonal rainfall in Canberra, many female kangaroos have been observed with two joeys in their care: one in the pouch and one at foot. So for every female killed in coming weeks by the ACT government, two joeys will also die, pushing the death toll closer to 3000”, said Nikki Sutterby, Coordinator, Australian Society for Kangaroos.

“In good conditions like we have now, female kangaroos can have two joeys that are dependent on her; one in the pouch, and an out-of-pouch joey. These ‘at foot’ joeys are still drinking their mother’s milk and reliant on her for protection and love. They move like greased lightning and will not be ‘humanely’ dispatched as the RSPCA has been pontificating hourly on the news bulletins. They will run off in terror, and be left to die terrified and alone from exposure, stress, starvation or predation”, said Ms Tiga Williams, a local kangaroo carer.

The killing was set to start last night, Sunday 20th June, on Mt Painter in Cook, ACT.

Download the Press Release pdf file here.