They’re roo-ining our game! Kangaroos are taking over a golf course in Perth

A golf club has started chasing away kangaroos using tractors and buggies after thousands invaded the fairway – sparking outrage from animal rights campaigners.

Sun City Country Club, which backs on to Yanchep National Park, north of Perth, was forced to resort to extreme measures after the kangaroo population expanded to around 3,500.

The groundsmen erected fences and started herding away around 500 a week because of the damage to the greens and the fact that a number were hit by cars on nearby roads.

But the move has been slammed by locals and campaigners, who say that the kangaroos deserve to ‘live a life free from harassment and harm’.

‘Recently it has been brought to our attention that staff at the Yanchep golf course have been driving the kangaroos away from the course [into the surrounding residential area with only a little bit of bush surrounding the course] using tractors/utility vehicles,’ she posted on change.org.

‘The kanagroo’s could have been hit by on coming traffic or may not be able to find sufficient amount of food on the small amount of bush land they are being forced onto ( which will soon be destroyed for more residential houses ).

‘We want them to stop harassing the kanagroo’s and leave them alone, as they stay in the shade during the day away from golfers. Or alternatively relocate the kanagroo’s to the national park to ensure their safety and freedom.

The groundsmen erected fences and started herding away around 500 a week because of the damage to the greens and the fact that a number were hit by cars on nearby roads

But the move has been slammed by locals and campaigners, who say that the kangaroos deserve to ‘live a life free from harassment and harm’

‘We would like your support to bring this disgusting behaviour to light in the community and help us save these beautiful animals from being driven out of there home by tractors to unsuitable bush land.

‘They deserve to live a life free from harassment and harm.’

The numbers of kangaroos in the golf course are thought to have increased because of expanding housing estates nearby.

In a letter to members seen by WA Today, the club also claimed that the new fencing it put up to keep the kangaroos out has been vandalised.

‘The Sun City Country Club has been on this site for over forty years and the housing developments at that time were minimal and the kangaroos roamed free but mainly in the natural bush,’ it said.

‘The kangaroo population has steadily increased over this period, with the recent land development projects, the kangaroos have gravitated to the golf course.

In a letter to members, the club also claimed that the new fencing it put up to keep the kangaroos out has been vandalised

‘The club has had small fences in place for many years, although the kangaroos still get in and continue to damage the course costing several thousand of dollars a year in repairs.’

‘The club is now experiencing several incidents of vandalism by vehicles and or persons knocking down our existing fences to gain access to the course, causing severe damage to the course which cannot be allowed to continue,’ the statement read.

‘When the fence is cut it also allows the kangaroos back out into the housing estate.’

The club said it was encouraging kangaroos out to the east bush land before the housing cuts off all access.

‘In the near future, the entire course will be land locked by housing and there will be no escape for the kangaroos, the club cannot be expected to provide a corridor for the kangaroos, as they will just stay on the course,’ the letter said.

Sun City president Greg Mitchell told Seven News that authorities to re-think their strategy around national parks.

A Department of Parks and Wildlife spokesman said kangaroos were attracted to golf courses’ fresh grass and permanent water supply.

‘Parks and Wildlife has been working with the Sun City Country Club for years regarding the management of kangaroos,’ he said.

Source: Daily mail