Tourism Australia defends its kangaroo street display...
March 25th 2010 23:18
Tourism Australia defends its Kangaroo street display...
Tourism Australia has defended its decision to put a live caged kangaroo on display on the streets of Los Angeles, saying the animal was well cared for.
A video posted on YouTube shows a kangaroo crouching on concrete in a cage in Beverly Hills in January as part of the G'Day USA promotional event.
The kangaroo sways constantly, appearing distressed, and a number of animal welfare groups have already condemned its treatme:
But Tourism Australia says the kangaroo was being looked after by professional Los Angeles animal handlers and was treated well while it was on display.
"Any accusation ... we take it very seriously if it's been poorly treated," Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy told Macquarie Radio on Thursday.
"But I've got to say again it does actually matter whether or not it was in distress and we can only take the advice of professionals who were on the scene at the time."
Mr McEvoy said America Humane - the USA equivalent of Australia's RSPCA - had seen the video and had said the animal was not in distress.
But conservationist Bob Irwin condemned Tourism Australia on Thursday.
He said he was "shocked and disgusted" on seeing the footage of the caged kangaroo.
Acknowledgements: NZ City
Tourism Australia has defended its decision to put a live caged kangaroo on display on the streets of Los Angeles, saying the animal was well cared for.
A video posted on YouTube shows a kangaroo crouching on concrete in a cage in Beverly Hills in January as part of the G'Day USA promotional event.
The kangaroo sways constantly, appearing distressed, and a number of animal welfare groups have already condemned its treatme:
But Tourism Australia says the kangaroo was being looked after by professional Los Angeles animal handlers and was treated well while it was on display.
"Any accusation ... we take it very seriously if it's been poorly treated," Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy told Macquarie Radio on Thursday.
"But I've got to say again it does actually matter whether or not it was in distress and we can only take the advice of professionals who were on the scene at the time."
Mr McEvoy said America Humane - the USA equivalent of Australia's RSPCA - had seen the video and had said the animal was not in distress.
But conservationist Bob Irwin condemned Tourism Australia on Thursday.
He said he was "shocked and disgusted" on seeing the footage of the caged kangaroo.
Acknowledgements: NZ City
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