Grade five and six students at Chewton Primary School have collaborated with Mount Alexander Wildlife Watch on a project protecting local wildlife.
With a focus on reducing kangaroo deaths on Forest Street, the children have been making posters to express their concern about the impact of vehicles hitting kangaroos.
On Friday, the children took their posters public, holding them up outside the Chewton pool for motorists to see.
Councillor Phillip Walker and Kerrie Allen from Mount Alexander Wildlife Watch were present to discuss the issues.
On Saturday morning, the children then went live on MainFM for an interview with ‘Wild Conversations’.
The children, who have been working on this project as part of their sustainability subject, said:
“We care about kangaroos in the area because we love having them in our backyards, in the bush behind our school and along the creek.
“We see so many dead kangaroos on the side of the road, and we feel sad that they have been left to die as if they don’t matter. “People would respond differently if it were a pet. They wouldn’t drive past and leave an injured dog on the side of the road.
“Also, as part of our First Nations learning, we have learnt that kangaroos are important for culture because some people connect to them as their totem, which means that they are part of their family.”
“We think that many of these kangaroo deaths and injuries are occurring in the evening and nighttime when trucks are travelling over the speed limit along Forest Street.”
Kerrie Allen from Mount Alexander Wildlife Watch suggests that people carry a wildlife kit in their car with a hi-viz jacket, a torch, a pillowcase and the number for Wildlife Victoria.
“If you do see an injured kangaroo, please stop. Pull over safely to the side of the road,” she said.
“If it’s safe, check to see if it has a pouch that might contain a baby joey. Joeys should be put in the pillowcase and taken to the nearest vet clinic immediately for them to look after (at no cost to the public).
“We have also learnt that fences are a real hazard to kangaroos when the height and materials are not considered. It is good to attach white fabric to the top of the fence, so the kangaroo can see the height at night and not get caught on the wire. Super high fences with barbed wire tops are incredibly dangerous for kangaroos,” Kerrie said.
Mt Alexander Wildlife Watch asks that drivers slow down and drive at or even below the speed limit, that people think about wild animal crossings when they are building fences and that they look out for wildlife. They also ask people to put their dogs on a lead to reduce the risk of kangaroos being frightened and then having a heart attack after being chased by a dog.
Call Wildlife Victoria on 8400 7300 or report online at www.wildlifevictoria.org.au/report-a-wildlife-emergency
