2 minute read
Movie Review – Kangaroo
FILM REVIEW By ShirleySienna
Surprise, shock and horror ran through me whilst watching the documentary ‘Kangaroo’. I felt I was reasonably informed about the Kangaroo industry and its part in the eco and economic system of Australia. I was very wrong. This was echoed by friends John and Helen, as we watched the movie together.
John - “Kangaroo was a real eye opener to me. The fact that the Australian Government conspired with the USA to export kangaroo skin to make baseball gloves and high-end Nike shoes, appalled me. How it made me feel, knowing they have done this behind the public’s back and to export the meat in such large amounts is beyond words!”
The film also documented the impact people who live on the bordering properties where ‘roo killing takes place. We were shown clear evidence of the lack of care, cleanliness and proper procedures by the legalised and licensed shooters’, which exceeded the borders of animal cruelty. It seems there is little regard for humane killing or concern for the joeys, left either to die slowly or have their skulls smashed cruelly.
Property owners, and conservationist’s living in the vicinity, are in a dangerous situation literally dodging bullets, receiving threats, and discovering rotting body parts on and around their properties.
Helen - “The movie was an eye opener. The lack of proper procedure and regard by the Australian Government regulators is appalling. It appears they are more concerned with looking after profit and business, than ensuring guidelines of humane killing are followed and basically disregarding the protection and environment of our native icon.
“Commercial licenses should really be reviewed yearly and, if they are deemed to have failed to work ethically and responsibly, they should be banned from the industry.
When you drive out of the suburbs, it was commonplace to see mobs of kangaroos grazing and drinking from the billabong, or local dam at dusk. This is becoming a rare sight and, in some areas, they no longer live at all, having been quietly, under the cover of darkness, culled into local extinction.
We were all stunned to realise that numbers of kangaroos are actually much lower than we could have imagined, as we invade and push them away from their land, minimize their numbers and compete for space. The film showed clearly the unbridled killing of kangaroos for human consumption, product and the pet food industry, as unmitigated chaos and one can only conclude that this must be addressed.
