I hope it is a joke, but in the picture caption of the newspaper version of this story, it reads that the kangaroo takes place alongside the "kiwi" on the Australian coat of arms. It is an emu for a start.

Being the emblem for New Zealand, the Kiwi is the mortal enemy of Australians. Be prepared for a lot of backlash from your Australian readers....

Thomas Cooper, Gillingham, Kent

I must say it sounds a good idea to cull them - great tasting meat and very soft leather plus saving endangered grasslands - win win situation isn't it? In addition, there are millions of the buggers, 400 less isn't really going to make much difference is it?

Joe, Exeter, UK

The Times (UK Printed version - Page 54 - Australia''s Coat of Arms) 14/3/08.
Paul Lartner appears to be confused about the difference between & location of 'kiwis' & 'Emus' !!!
Best regards
Pommie (RN Rtd)

Michael Carrigan, Weymouth, United Kingdom

I love the fact that the authorities (via expert advice) have said that killing the kangaroos is more humane than moving them. I mean, come on. If you want to cull rthem because you can't be bothered or don't want to spend any money moving them, then fine but don't pretend that this is more humane!

Andy, London, UK

Kangaroos are overrated

Skip, paris, france

Humans are also at an all time high with about 6billion on earth... shall we cull them too?

Isha, Madrid,

I Believe the plight of the kangaroo is a national disgrace and thank Paul McCartney for any input he can add to help these magnificent animals. The fact that the kangaroo is now a commodity encourages people to push for their destruction.
PLEASE VIEW THE DRAFT OF THE NATIONAL CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE HUMANE SHOOTING OF KANGAROOS AND WALLABIES put forward by the Australian Government. available on the Animals Australia cite to see how disgusting there so called humane treatment of kangaroos is. VIEW http://www.animalsaustralia.org/features/kangaroo_code_sanctions_cruelty.php. apparently it is acceptable to humanly kill a orphaned joey after killing the parent animal by forcelfully swinging it againt a solid metal tow bar of a vehicle. I have been decieved by thinking we are an intellegent and caring country.
Roslyn Greco, Adelaide, Australia.

Roslyn Greco, Adelaide, South Australia

So are the environmentalists going to line every fence in Australia to stop them hopping on the road?
I think not
fact
'Roos have been harvested for their meat since the first aboriginal set foot on this continent.

"Environmentalists have also accused the Government of hypocrisy in light of its vocal opposition to whaling by Japan"

Are there 60 million wales swanning around in the antartcic? NO. Has overfishing/mismanagement and plain national self interest destroyed local whaling stocks?
erm hard one that....

Australia needs a managed process for the harvesting of roos. As these animals lie wholly within its borders it can be done and done well without 40 nations talking shop and some carrying on regardless to the consequences

Am I for eating roo ? Yes
Am I against "scientific whaling" Yes
Am I a caveman? only if your from "Viva!"

By the way do these Viva folk know just how big a roo is or do they think they are about the size of a squirrel

Ian, Ballarat, Australia

And if you have access to the hardcopy, you'll find this article on page 54 with a picture of the Australian Coat of Arms where it states,
"The marsupial, with the kiwi, takes pride of place on Australia's Arm's".
Ha! Jolly big Kiwi!? You Galahs, its an Emu!!!

Yvette Yeates, London, United Kingdom

Firstly, Viva! is agreeing with Australian wildlife groups (and the defence department!) that further efforts should be made relocate the kangaroos, if indeed there are issues with loss of biodiversity. The Government's refusal only too readily shows their own mercenary relationship with indigenous wildlife.

Although it is a different issue, kangaroos are killed in the wild for financial gain and not for other reasons. Over 3 million are killed each year for their meat and skins - this number does not include the joeys in pouch and at foot that are deemed surplus. It is their killing in particular, which has made the sale of kangaroo meat so unpalatable to Brits.

Also, I despair at this mass brainwashing. Kangaroos are not in plague proportions and never have been. Official figures from the Australian government have shown that their numbers have collapsed. There are now almost 33 million kangaroos fewer in the areas used for commercial hunting than just six years ago.

Justin Kerswell, Bristol,

in the newspaper there is a picture of the Australian Coat of Arms saying that the the bird is a kiwi. It is obviously an emu. Basic Aussie citizenship test stuff!!!!

Mark, Bristol, UK

Also they seem to be missing the point that this will save endangered plants and therefore entire ecosystems that are being destroyed by an excess of Kangaroos. The environmentalists are actually campaigning for destruction of biodiversity. Smart.

Rob, London,

Even the environmentalist dingbats don't deny that kangaroo populations are at an all-time high. Their main opposition to culling the excess, seems to be that kangaroos are fluffy, cute and different-looking. The kangaroos to be culled are not endangered. You can't compare their situation to that of whales. Do you think it would have occurred to us to cull kangaroos, if there weren't many left? They are the cows of the Australian wild. You don't have to EVERYTHING that Paul McCartney says.

Paul Francis, Brisbane, Australia