Kangaroos are becoming landlocked by urban development in Ellenbrook.

THE welfare of 200 kangaroos in Ellenbrook has been under the spotlight this week following a push by concerned residents to ensure they would be relocated safely by the developer.

Residents have kept a watchful eye on a mob of kangaroos that live on Millhouse Drive and will be shot with tranquilizer darts, then relocated.

Ellenbrook resident Julie Church said she thought the kangaroos would be moved this week and residents were worried about their welfare.

She said many people were extremely concerned the Department of Parks and Wildlife, which signed off on the operation, would not have qualified animal welfare carers onsite to help.

“The wildlife carers I contacted over the weekend are very concerned that a contractor will carry out this work without vets and wildlife carers at site at the tranquilising and more importantly the release point,” she said.

“They said the kangaroos will be extremely distressed and very often abandon their joeys out of the trauma of the procedure.
“So there needs to be carers at both points to pick up abandoned joeys and help the animals that will injure themselves.”

Ms Church said details about the release point had not been released and residents wanted to know if sufficient research had been done to ensure there would be enough food and water for the mob over the long hot summer months ahead.
Stocklands project manager Stuart Sinclair said an approved contractor would move the kangaroos soon but a date for the move had not yet been finalised.

A Department of Parks and Wildlife spokesperson said the kangaroos would be moved to a state forest in Sawyers Valley that had plenty of water and food.

He said there would be a vet onsite and the process would be done as humanely as possible.

Ms Church said residents would continue to stay in touch with the department and local native animal care groups hoped they would have the opportunity to offer a helping hand when the transfer took place.