PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN FARMERS BURY WOMBATS ALIVE AND LEAVES THEM TO SUFFOCATE OR STARVE TO DEATH
  1. Signatures
    1,065 out of 1,500
    Petitioning
    1. SA Minister for Environment and Conservation, Paul Caica (+ 5 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • SA Minister for Environment and Conservation, Paul Caica
      • The DENR Animal Welfare Unit
      • South Australian RSPCA
      • Premier of Sth Australia, Hon Mike Rann
      • Greens Senator, Bob Brown
      • Senator Sarah Hanson-Young
  2. Created By
    S D
    Ballarat, AL
About this Petition Petition Letter

How dare South Australia use the hairy-nosed wombat as its official emblem while it continues to bury this endangered species 'ALIVE'.

 

 

Wombats are trapped in their borrows and left to die from either lack of oxygen or starvation. What could be worse? BARBARIC! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Action must be taken NOW to protect and conserve the southern hairy-nosed wombat in South Australia.

 

 

The completely inhumane practice of wombat burrow bulldozing has been a "wombat control method" used by South Australian farmers for a very long time.

 

 

Ironically, the southern hairy-nosed wombat is the state's 'official emblem' (surely something to be proud of?) yet to date the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the SA government authority in charge of protecting Australian wildlife has failed to act on behalf of the wombats to protect them and their habitat.

 

 

RSPCA South Australia also seems reluctant to become involved in what is obviously a cruelty issue. Culling – both legal and illegal - has long been present in the species, but unfortunately it is seldom carried out in a humane and legal fashion. As an easy alternative, wombat burrows are bulldozed and completely demolished, Often while wombats are still inside. This would obviously lead to a slow and painful death for the wombat or wombats trapped inside the burrow.

 

 

The illegal practice of wombat burrow bulldozing is happening in many parts of South Australia, predominantly in the Murraylands region, including the localities of Cambrai, Sedan, Sandleton, Eudunda, Kapunda and Dutton. Burrows on private and public land are being completely destroyed. Often burrows well outside any plough or cropping line are also destroyed. Wombats are being buried alive.

 

 

HABITAT:

 

 

The southernmost area of central Australia, including: the southern coastal region of South Australia, and the southeast corner of Western Australia. The Southern hairy nosed wombat's range once included the southwestern portion of Queensland, but it is now extinct there. Within its range, populations of the Southern hairy-nosed wombat are fragmented.

 

 

THE CULLING OF WOMBATS

 

 

One abhorrenlty cruel, and sickening method of culling hairy-nosed wombats is to  decapitate pouched young, yes South Australia also does this to its 'official emblem'.

 

 

The hairy-nosed wombat is currently listed as an 'endangered species'.











 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recent Signatures

Shame on South Australia for burying its official icon ALIVE

Dear Minister and Senators

I am writing to you today regarding the extremely urgent matter of WOMBAT BURROW BULLDOZING that is occurring in parts of South Australia.

The completely inhumane practice of wombat burrow bulldozing has been a "wombat control method" used by South Australian farmers for a very long time. Ironically, the southern hairy-nosed wombat is the state's official emblem (surely something to be proud of?) yet to date the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - the SA government authority in charge of protecting Australian wildlife - has failed to act on behalf of the wombats - to protect them and their habitat. RSPCA South Australia also seems reluctant to become involved in what is obviously a cruelty issue. Culling – both legal and illegal - has long been present in the species, but unfortunately it is seldom carried out in a humane and legal fashion.

As an easy alternative, wombat burrows are bulldozed and completely demolished, often while wombats are still inside. This would obviously lead to a slow and painful death for the wombat or wombats trapped inside the burrow.The illegal practice of wombat burrow bulldozing is happening in many parts of South Australia, predominantly in the Murraylands region, including the localities of Cambrai, Sedan, Sandleton, Eudunda, Kapunda and Dutton. Burrows on private and public land are being completely destroyed. Often burrows well outside any plough or cropping line are also destroyed. Wombats are being buried alive. This is unacceptable! I have just heard of yet another instance of burrow bulldozing on public land.

The property owner in Cambrai is already known by government authorities for having destroyed burrows in the past, yet with no actions taken to prosecute this felony the property owner fears no retribution or prosecution and burrows have been completely ploughed in again. The Wombat Awareness Organisation (WAO) - headed by Brigitte Stevens and Frank Mikula - are working hard to combat the problem of burrow bulldozing and wombat culling. WAO have initiated the Wombat Mitigation Project, a program to help farmers co-exist with wombats by developing and implementing viable alternatives to wombat culling.

I urge you to act today and to immediately investigate issues of burrow bulldozing and to prosecute to the full extent of the law those who are illegally and inhumanely killing wombats. I ask you to review the issuing of destruction permits, and to review methods of culling, including an immediate halt to the abhorrent decapitation of pouched young. I urge you to work with WAO to support and broaden the Wombat Mitigation Project, and to encourage farmers to live with wombats, and to protect and conserve the Southern Hairy-Nosed Wombat and its habitat.

Australia's native animals are precious and unique. I now ask that DENR and other government agencies protect our wildlife before they are lost forever.

Even those animals that may be considered "common" must be protected, and it is not acceptable to wait until the southern hairy-nosed wombat shares the fate of its cousin, the northern hairy-nosed wombat, before action is taken to save the species.

I now ask that these issues are fully investigated and would appreciate a reply detailing actions taken to halt this barbaric practice. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.

Yours sincerely


[Your name]

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