Australian activists urge Paul McCartney to save kangaroos
SYDNEY (AFP) — Former Beatle Paul McCartney will be asked to to help save hundreds of kangaroos from being killed in Australia, animal rights activists said Monday.
The campaigners are hoping the multi-millionaire star, who is a member of an animal rights group that has opposed the cull, will help fund a plan to relocate the kangaroos instead of killing them.
The government says it is necessary to kill about 400 kangaroos because they are damaging defence department land near the capital Canberra.
Authorities had said they would move the kangaroos, but now say the 3.5 million-dollar (3.29 million US) cost of this is not a good use of taxpayers' money.
National Kangaroo Protection Coalition spokesman Pat O'Brien said the group would ask McCartney to help pay for the animals to be moved.
"Defence says cost is an issue, but experts have told us that it could cost as little as 750,000 dollars," he said. "We have had a lot of offers of donations."
The cull is expected to begin soon and take a few weeks, but protesters said they would do all they could to save the kangaroos.
Animal Liberation spokesman Bernard Brennan said his group was determined to prevent the slaughter.
"We'll do whatever it takes, I've made a promise to these kangaroos," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
The animals will be shot with tranquilising darts and then euthanized with a lethal drug.
