Community members from across the Southern Highlands will come together on Saturday, October 24, calling for a moratorium on kangaroo slaughter for the first World Kangaroo Day.
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Despite the extreme habitat destruction and loss of life from the Black Summer bushfires, kangaroos continue to face the largest commercial slaughter of land-based wildlife in the world.
Animal Justice Party Southern Highlands Regional Group Leader, Heather Edwards said today's global day of action for kangaroos will continue to expose industry cruelty, and the impacts of the NSW Government's smear campaign that has led to kangaroos being "undervalued and under protected".
"The Southern Highlands community is horrified by the cruelty faced by kangaroos slaughtered across our region," Ms Edwards said.
"Joeys are legally bludgeoned to death or decapitated, and shooters are not required to pass any form of training, leading many kangaroos to suffer a slow and painful death.
"Following the bushfires and ongoing kangaroo slaughter, there are now grave concerns that the long-term survival of kangaroo populations is at risk. In many regions, shooters have been unable to reach their 'kill quota' for years.
"It is not surprising that a new study of over 1000 NSW residents showed nearly seventy-five percent of respondents believed the NSW Government should undertake a population count and scientific assessment of the impact the fires had on kangaroos.
"The ongoing slaughter of kangaroos is a source of global shame. The world is watching as the same kangaroos wildlife carers were tirelessly saving from the bushfires are now gunned down.
"It's time to take action.
"That's why this World Kangaroo Day, the people here in the Southern Highlands are joining with an international community of kangaroo advocates and calling on the NSW Government to place an immediate moratorium on kangaroo slaughter here in our state."
Saturday's protest is one of many being held across NSW, supported by Animal Justice Party MP Mark Pearson, Kangaroos Alive, and legendary cricketer Jason Gillespie.
"This is an animal we consider a national icon. It needs protection by law," Mr Gillespie said.
"The world watched in horror this past summer as our beautiful country burned.
"The devastation was on a scale never seen by this generation.
"How can we continue to allow the commercial hunting of the kangaroo, with the true impact of this catastrophe still unknown?
"It's time to stand up and show the world Australians care about the protection of kangaroos.
"I'm joining people across Australia, calling on governments to stop killing kangaroos and undertake a scientific assessment on the impact of fires on our national icon."
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