In 2016 ASK received a tip off that Bathurst Council conducted a secret meeting and were planning another kangaroo kill on Mt Panorama in preparation for their car races. In 2008 Bathurst Council slaughtered 140 kangaroos and their 88 joeys on Mt Panorama and received worldwide condemnation as a result. In collaboration with the Bathurst Kangaroo Project, ASK obtained secret council documents where their brutal plan for 2016 was revealed. Local media were informed and the issue received widespread coverage on local radio and newspapers. ASK also contacted the council urging them to reconsider the advice of the Bathurst Kangaroo Project and their research, which clearly showed that shooting was not a solution and that appropriate barrier fencing and a strategic pre-race herding program with the assistance of local kangaroo experts had proven successful in three previous races. ASK members and supporters were also alerted which would have resulted in another tsunami of letters arriving in the council’s inbox. In April we received this response from the Bathurst Mayor:

“Thank you for your email dated 29 March 2016, the contents of which are noted. I support your observation that there were no incidents involving kangaroos entering the circuit during the two most recent events at Mt Panorama. Council has not yet resolved to proceed with application. I am sure there will be healthy debate around the issue, when it is presented to Council for consideration, on the most effective way to manage kangaroos during race events at Mt Panorama”.

There was no permit issued to Bathurst Council to kill the Mt Panorama kangaroos and the council is now working closely with the Bathurst Kangaroo Project to relocate another mob of 150 kangaroos near Mt Panorama who have been displaced by council’s removal of an apple orchard. This is an another extremely important win for kangaroos and shows that if we apply enough pressure, we can save kangaroos from these cruel and unnecessary extermination programs and force the authorities to find alternatives.

You can learn more about this campaign at the news links below:

• Western Advocate – Roos in the headlights – 30 March 2016
• ABC News – Mount Panorama kangaroo cull plans to put on hold: Council – March 2016
• ABC News – Hundreds of kangaroos to be relocated from Bathurst’s Mt Panorama to curb vehicle collision – January 2017
• SwissCows – Ray Mjadwesch and the Bathurst Kangaroo Cull – January 2010
• Western Advocate – Joey cull case on the Mount investigated – November 2012
• Western Advocate – FoI documents key to kangaroo – cull complaint – November 2012