Wildlife trade and conservation
A Survey of the Extent of Compliance with the Requirements of the Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos
Prepared for Environment Australia by RSPCA Australia
July 2002
Endorsed by the Council of Nature Conservation Ministers
The Council of Nature Conservation Ministers (CONCOM) was composed of all Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers having responsibility for national parks and wildlife. In July 1991 the CONCOM was amalgamated with the Australian and New Zealand Environment Council to form the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC).
Addresses of government nature conservation agencies are found on page 5.
Department of the Environment and Heritage
Published by Environment Australia.
Information in this booklet may be copied or reproduced for study, research, information or educational purposes, subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgment of the source.
First Edition published 1985
Second Edition published 1990, Reprinted 1995 and 1998
The Council of Nature Conservation Ministers (CONCOM) is composed of all Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers having responsibility for national parks and wildlife. CONCOM is advised by a Standing Committee consisting of the Heads of Commonwealth, State and Territory Authorities responsible for national parks and wildlife matters.
This 'Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos' has been prepared by the CONCOM Special Working Group on Cruelty Aspects of the Taking and Holding of Native Fauna. During the course of its preparation, drafts of the Code were circulated widely for public comment.
The Code sets an achievable standard of humane conduct and is the minimum required of persons shooting kangaroos.
Endorsed in principle by Council on 30 May 1985, the Code is intended to be implemented through education and State and Territory legislation as appropriate. This Code is based on the knowledge and technology available at the time of publication and may need to be varied in the light of new knowledge.
Since the code was originally published, there have been numerous comments on its value and suggestions on its improvement. In particular, the RSPCA and the National Advisory Committee on Kangaroos have recommended a number of changes. An ad hoc Working Group on the Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos was formed to consider these suggestions and revise the code. The revised code was endorsed by CONCOM on 20 September 1990. Further comments are welcome, and should be forwarded to the Wildlife Management Section, Environment Australia - Biodiversity Group, GPO Box 787, CANBERRA ACT 2601.
This Code of Practice has been produced to ensure that all persons intending to shoot a free-living kangaroo are aware of the welfare aspects pertinent to that activity. In this Code the term 'kangaroo' means all species of the family Macropodidae within the superfamily Macropodoidea and so applies to kangaroos, wallaroos or euros, wallabies and pademelons.
All shooting of kangaroos, whether on public or private land, is subject to law. The laws may differ between localities and the Government Wildlife Authority in the state or territory in which the shooting will occur can advise on the relevant provisions. Except where specifically exempted by law, states and territories will require the shooter to have a licence or permit issued by the Government Wildlife Authority and this Authority will specify any conditions or restrictions applying to that licence or permit.
When shooting a kangaroo the primary objective must be to achieve instantaneous loss of consciousness and rapid death without regaining consciousness. For the purposes of this Code, this is regarded as a sudden and painless death. Commonsense is required to assess the prevailing conditions. Where the conditions are such as to raise doubts about achieving a sudden and painless kill, shooting must not be attempted.
The Code is divided into three sections covering the method of shooting, despatch of injured kangaroos and pouch young and shooting for scientific purposes, and has three schedules specifying firearms, ammunition and points of aim. In each section an introduction provides background to the conditions which must be adhered to by all persons shooting kangaroos.
The species of kangaroos which are shot differ in size and there is enormous variation in the terrain and prevailing weather conditions at the time of shooting. The combinations of firearms and ammunition are considered adequate to ensure a sudden and painless death for the target animal under most environmental conditions, provided that the shooting is done in accordance with the other conditions set out in this Code. However, it is the shooter's responsibility to ensure a sudden and painless death for target animals, and under unusual conditions firearms and ammunition that exceed the minimum requirements may have to be used.
With a centrefire rifle a sudden and painless death is consistently achieved by the projectile striking the brain of the target animal. Thus the brain is the required point of aim for this class of weapon. Centrefire rifles are specified for all kangaroo shooting except where the smaller wallabies are to be shot in or adjacent to forest or scrub. Such shooting is often carried out in daylight; the animals are flushed at close quarters and are unlikely to be stationary. In these cases the licence or permit issued by the Government Wildlife Authority may authorise the use of shotguns. At ranges up to the maximum specified in Schedule 1 a shotgun will cause a sudden and painless death if the pattern is centred on the head, neck or chest of the target animal. The shooter must be able to place a clear shot into one of these target areas whether the animal is moving or stationary.
Conditions
Conditions
Conditions
Conditions
No matter how carefully the shooter aims, some kangaroos will not be killed outright. Wounded kangaroos must be dispatched as quickly and humanely as possible.
When killing a wounded animal a brain shot may be impractical. For example, the accurate placement of a shot in the brain may require capture and restraint of the animal; this would increase suffering and be inconsistent with the objective of sudden and painless death. In such circumstances a heart shot may be the most humane means of dispatch. In some special circumstances, where a wounded kangaroo is encountered, it may not be practicable to shoot the animal, as at a
practical range the acceptable points of aim may be obscured, and at a close range the use of a high powered rifle may be unsafe. In these special circumstances a heavy blow to the skull to destroy the brain may be the most appropriate and humane means of dispatch.
Kangaroo shooters often shoot more than one kangaroo out of a group before driving to the carcases to retrieve them. This is acceptable provided that where an individual kangaroo is wounded no further kangaroos are shot until all reasonable efforts have been made to dispatch the wounded animal.
Shot females must be examined for pouch young and if one is present it must also be killed. Decapitation with a sharp instrument in very small hairless young or a properly executed heavy blow to destroy the brain in larger young are effective means of causing sudden and painless death.
Larger young can also be dispatched humanely by a shot to the brain, where this can be delivered accurately and in safety.
Conditions
Permits to shoot kangaroos for scientific purposes are sometimes requested. Because of the circumstances and locations in which such shooting may take place, and because of specific research requirements (e.g. to obtain anatomical items such as intact skulls for diagnostic examination and museum reference collections), it may be necessary to allow exemptions from the general conditions such as point of aim and shooting platform.
Such variations must never detract from the primary responsibility of the shooter to provide a sudden and painless death for the target animals.
Conditions
(Note: Ammunition must be loaded to at least the specifications shown to ensure a sudden and painless death for the target animals)
|
Species |
Prescribed firearm and firearm/ammunition combinations |
|
Group 1 |
|
|
Red kangaroo (Macropus rufus), Eastern grey kangaroo (M. giganteus), Western grey kangaroo (M. fuliginosus), Euro or wallaroo (M. robustus), Agile wallaby (M. agilis), Whiptail wallaby (M. parryi) |
A centrefire rifle, fitted with a telescopic sight. Nominal bore size 0.569cm (0.224') and centrefire case capacity of at least .222 Remington. Ammunition shall have an expanding projectile (soft or hollow point) of not less than 324 mg (50 grains) and provide a minimum muzzle energy of 1542 Joules (1137 foot-pounds). [.222 Remington with 50 grain projectile must be loaded to achieve a muzzle velocity of 975 m/sec (3200 ft/sec) to achieve this minimum muzzle energy]. |
|
Group 2 |
|
|
All members of the family Macropidae other than those listed in Group 1. |
a) A centrefire rifle fitted with a telescopic sight. Calibre and ammunition sufficient to achieve at least a minimum muzzle energy of 975 Joules (720 foot-pounds) {e.g. .22 Hornet; 45 grain projectile and loaded to achieve muzzle velocity (m.v.) of at least 2690 ft/sec, or .17 Remington; 25 grain projectile loaded to achieve m.v. of at least 3610 ft/sec]. or b) Shotguns of 12 gauge or larger, using No.2, 1, BB or larger shot. Maximum range for shotguns of 30 metres. Shotgun cartridges must be loaded to provide a dense and random pattern (e.g. 12 gauge cartridge requires a shot load no less than 36g = 1.25 oz = 63 BB shot pellets). |
Note: A shot to the side of the head is preferred as it is a larger target area.
Government Nature Conservation
Agencies - Addresses
Australian Capital Territory
Director
Parks and Conservation Service
PO Box 1065
TUGGERANONG ACT 2901
Phone (02) 6207 9777
Fax (02) 6207 2335
New South Wales
Director-General
National Parks and Wildlife Service
PO Box 1967
HURSTVILLE NSW 2220
Phone (02) 9585 6444
Fax (02) 9585 6455
Northern Territory
Director
Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory
PO Box 496
PALMERSTON NT 0831
Phone (08) 8999 4537
Fax (08) 8932 3849
Queensland
Executive Director (Conservation)
Department of Environment
PO Box 155
BRISBANE ALBERT STREET QLD 4002
Phone (07) 3225 1779
Fax (07) 3225 1769
South Australia
Chief Executive
Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs
GPO Box 1047
ADELAIDE SA 5001
Phone (08) 8204 9322
Fax (08) 8204 9321
Tasmania
Director of Parks and Wildlife Service
Department of Environment and Land Management
GPO Box 44A
HOBART TAS 7001
Phone (03) 6233 6461
Fax (03) 6223 8603
Victoria
Secretary
Department of Natural Resources and Environment
PO Box 41
EAST MELBOURNE VIC 3002
Phone (03) 9412 4364
Fax(03) 9412 4540
Western Australia
Executive Director
Department of Conservation and Land Management
Locked Bag 104
BENTLEY DELIVERY CENTRE WA 6983
Phone (08) 9442 0300
Fax (08) 9386 7112
Commonwealth
Director of National Parks and Wildlife
Environment Australia - Biodiversity Group
GPO Box 787
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Phone (02) 6274 1111
Fax (02) 6274 1123