A short 12 km stretch of road just west of Blanchetown in South Australia on the Sturt Hwy, is a serious death trap for kangaroos, wombats and other wildlife crossing here. 

They have been living on these plains near Blanchetown on the Murray River for thousands of years. Using the plains to graze and the Murray River to drink. They need to cross this section of the Sturt Highway all the time just near Blanchetown, to freely live how they have lived for generations, but they are being killed in their hundreds here every year. 

In the month of May 2022 on only four seperate road inspection trips, I specifically went out to photograph the dead kangaroos, wombats etc I counted 16 kangaroos, on this stretch of road. Some where around 10 years old and even older. This doesn’t include the ones that the local CFS, SAPOL, DEW and Mid Murray Council or locals also remove from the road to prevent further carnage. The carnage threat has a domino effect as other animals like eagles, hawks and feral animals feeding on them become targets. Vehicles also try to avoid their large dead bodies causing a major safety issue on this stretch of road. 

The Sturt Hwy with its 110 km speed limit west of Blanchetown runs directly through their natural habitat. “Daily” these iconic large beautiful kangaroos and other wildlife are struck by vehicles, semitrailers and road trains. The Sturt Hwy connects Adelaide with our eastern states and the traffic is ever increasing. Not to mention the increasing number of road trains accessing local farms almost every evening (farms are growing exponentially in this region) when wildlife are most active. 

Locals and Australians in general are desensitised to seeing dead animals on the side of the road. We need to remain conscious of our impact and remember they are sentient beings with complex family structures and we need to help protect them with all our might. They are not a pest, they do not destroy the environment - this is a myth. They are vital  to eco systems and to the good health of the landscape especially in this dry arid region spreading seed and regenerating vegetation. 

Visitors from overseas are absolutely shocked and appalled to see these beautiful beings lying dead on the sides of our highways and even more perplexed that it has become acceptable and that no one is doing anything about it. In European countries and many states in the US they are actively making wildlife crossing safety a priority. Australia is again behind and our extinction rate continues to rise. We need to act now to save them from imminent death along this particular stretch of road. 

We need to “reduce the speed limit”, install  “slow down” and “wildlife crossing” warning signs, “wildlife crossing tunnels” and “wildlife over passes” along this 12 km stretch of road. 

These beautiful creatures deserve a life of peace and we need to care more about them individually and their safety. It is not ok to drive past them dead on the road and ignore this issue. Sadly they are not only up against vehicle strikes in this region but also the DEW continues to issue wildlife destruction permits. We need to encourage land owners to live along side of them and care for them on the land they own and manage. 

The survival of these unique kangaroo mobs depends on making adjustments to accommodate them in their natural environment.The land in this region doesn’t just belong to the people that own properties but to the wildlife as well. 

Our needs are not more important than theirs. Australians are becoming more aware of the damage we continue to do and the long term affects we are having on the environment, on our wildlife and on country. Old ways need to change! Australians want to see change and to see an increase in Wildlife and Animal Protection all round. 

I am calling on The Department for Main Roads and Infrastructure SA and the Department of Environment and Water SA to act on this issue immediately. To help protect all wildlife especially in high strike areas like this. Put in place measures to stop this ongoing serious carnage especially on this stretch of the Sturt Hwy near Blanchetown. 

https://amp.abc.net.au/article/100612056