Wildlife Protestors gathered at Parliament House on Wednesday to bring the government the messages of grief and anger written on the 'Spirit Kangaroos' at the Memorial Protest on the previous Sunday.

(31st March 2010)

Once again protestors called for consultation with community in wildlife management, they asked for a moratorium on the shooting of other land-locked kangaroos and called for opportunity to explore other management methods than shooting including translocation of mobs to suitable areas.  Protestors called for a meeting with Mr Brumby and Mr Jennings to ask them why a rescue group had to undergo such difficult and stringent processes to save a mob while DSE could kill them with little or no requirement for detailed research and ethics approval.

The group then walked to the offices of The Department of Sustainability and Environment and called for Mr Ron Waters to explain why these kangaroos were killed when he was aware that Wildlife Victoria had indicated this mob for scientific research into feasibility of translocation of landlocked kangaroos - a research project based on specs Mr Water's had recommended at a meeting of the South Morang Kangaroo Working Group.

Memorial Protest Held for the South Morang Kangaroos Killed by the Government (28th March 2010)

A poignant moment as a young Lilli hugs one of the 21 cut-out kangaroos set up in the field where the government massacred the South Morang mob.

Although the Lilli may not understand  how her innocent action represents the loss felt by the community, the impact of her hug meant a great deal to the mourners who came to pay tribute and remind the government that actions taken by them in January are viewed by this community as abhorrent and completely unethical.

Fiona Rowley, from the Wildlife Victoria group Wildlife Rescuers, who rescue injured wildlife in the Northern Suburbs of Melbourne, spoke at this memorial about  the efforts to save this land-locked mob of kangaroos. An emotional Fiona outlined the processes that have been taken to undertake this rescue, and ended her talk with an apology to the mob now gone and a vow to continue to fight for kangaroo rights.

Following Fiona came a  moving poem from Wildlife Victoria member Irving Reid.  Irving created for the mourners an image of these magnificent creatures, massacred by our own government.

Finally Sandy Fernee, Wildlife Victoria's CEO vowed that as a community we would fight and we will prevail, that government does not yet recognise the strength of our members and the tenacity with which we will keep going to save our kangaroos.  Sandy called for a moratorium on all the other potential victims in land-locked areas in newly developing suburbs and demanded community consultation in wildlife management.

The memorial protest concluded with lighting of candles and with protestors writing their message to the government over this incident on the white cut-out kangaroos.  Many messages of grief and anger were expressed by the150 attendees. The kangaroos will be taken to parliament steps on Wednesday 31st March at 11am.

People who could not make it to the Memorial Protest, and wish to write their own message, are invited to come to Kindness House, 288 Brunswick St, Fitzroy to add their message of concern. The kangaroos will be there until Wednesday morning.

Read below for last week's news item on these kangaroos

Afraid of Public Backlash State Government Kills

Kangaroos in Secret

Wildlife Victoria is angry

and outraged over the

secret killing of landlocked

kangaroos in South Morang

Victoria without community

consultation and while a

relocation study and program

was pending approval.

The Department of

Sustainability and Environment did not even inform one of their own employees who is the

Chair of the Ethics Committee that is currently reviewing what was to be the first scientific

study and relocation program of eastern grey kangaroos in Victoria.

Wildlife Victoria is furious with the department and feels they have been duped into

continuing the proposed relocation project.  Wildlife Victoria and other stakeholders

had been involved in a working group committee about the future welfare of these

kangaroos in Melbourne’s northern suburb for nearly 2 years but the DSE pulled out

of the working group last July.

Please click here for the full story.