THE KANGAROO

Otago Witness, Issue 3619, 24 July 1923, Page 24

THE KANGAROO

AUSTRALIA'S NATIONAL ANIMAL. IN DANGER OF EXTINCTION. (Fboji Oub Own Correspondent.) SDYNEY, July 4. Realising the danger of extinction which faces Australia’s strange and picturesque national animal, the kangaroo, the director of the Queensland Museum, Mr H. A. Longman, F.L.S., has issued a timely appeal for steps to be taken to avert this calamity. These include the provision of fenced reserves. “The kangarojj,” says Mr Longman, is so closely associated with the history of Australia, and is of such special interest in the world of natural science, that there is a possibility of its extermination in years to come, unless definite preventive steps are taken. In southern coastal districts of Queensland the large kangaroos are practically a thing of the past. They are doomed in all areas of fairly close settlement. Tile average Queenslander will go through life without seeing a kangaroo unless he visits the Zoological Gardens. However, there are 670,500 square miles in this fttate, comprising a variety of environmental zones. It is pleasant to state that the Queensland Government has been most syrnpathetic to the appeals of nature-lovers, ihe legislation embodied in the Animals and Birds Act, of 1921, stands as a record i ac * va ? oec * altitude. When the remarkable native bear appeared to be in danger of extinction this quaint animal was placed under total protection, and the open season for opossums was also restricted to two months. Kangaroos and wallabies, however are totally without protection. In some districts the smaller wallabies are so numerous as to be a great pest, and cultivation has to be strongly fenced, while on station properties, especially in times of partial or severe drought, kangaroos are serious competitors with sheep, and the large indigenous animals, if numerous, may even menace the existence of flocks. Apart from this view% it must also be recognised that the marsupial skin industry is an important, one. ing employment to a large number of scalpers. No definite figures are available as to the number of pelts coming annually to the Brisbane market, but in answer to an inquiry Messrs Mactaggart Bros. (Ltd.) have kindly made an approximation of between 300,000 and 400.000 skins; this number, however, includes in addition to the kangaroos all descriptions of wallabies.” Although these large and characteristic marsupials may be a nuisance in places their complete extermination would be a & a eert t? Australi >- and it is suggested SMTrod^VK?? 6 diStriCtS