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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 08 Hansard (Thursday, 5 August 2004) . . Page.. 3618 ..

wide area of urban and rural ACT there are a number of “hot spots” that are more regularly inspected by rangers. Some of these are

(4) The number of motor vehicle collisions with kangaroos varies between months of the year, and between years with a large number generally experienced during winter coinciding with the shorter daylight hours and peak hour traffic. Events such as the December 2001 and January 2003 bushfires had a very significant impact on kangaroo road deaths.

The number of kangaroos that have been removed from roadsides, including injured animals requiring urban wildlife staff to euthanase from 2001 until now is as follows:

2001 average = 2.07/day, 14.5/week, 63/month, 756/year

2002 average = 2.2/day, 15.4/wek, 67/month, 804/year

2003 average = 3.1day, 21.7/week, 94.3/month, 1132/year

2004 YTD (end June *) 3.1/day, 21.6/week, 93.5/month, 1122 year (est)

numbers have significantly increased over the average so far to date for July

(5) The number of carcasses removed is provided at (4).

Accurate figures of the cost to remove carcasses or euthanase and remove injured animals each year are not recorded. However, it is estimated that in recent years the equivalent of two fulltime rangers is required to undertake the program. The estimated cost of which including salaries, penalty allowances, vehicles and equipment is in the order of $150,000/yr.

(6) Regular inspections are undertaken.

(7) Environment ACT seeks to provide a timely service so as to remove dead animals before significant decay occurs. However I also note that:

• Many other Australian jurisdictions do not remove carcasses.

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