Demand for kangaroo meat ban

The sale of kangaroo meat is set to be banned from all council-owned buildings in Wolverhampton after the trade was labelled as "cruel" and "unsustainable".

The ban, expected to be approved next week by the city council, has been prompted by worldwide concern that the kangaroo population is plummeting because of demand for the food.

A temporary ban on the sale of kangaroo meat has already been put in place for the current Continental Market in Dudley Street, with the permanent ban to affect all-year round market stalls and other council-owned buildings. Pubs like the Walkabout in Queen Street will still be free to sell it, although it has been urged to join the campaign by having a self-imposed ban.

Councillor Malcolm Gwinnett, Liberal Democrat for Spring Vale, said: "We don't want to see it for sale in Wolverhampton anywhere, because these animals being clubbed to death is inhumane.

"The meat is detrimental to people's health and it's not a quality meat anyway. We don't want to see the kangaroo suffer and do not want to see it for sale in Wolverhampton.

"This ban will be on all council-owned property. It's not political, it's about protecting the kangaroo and the environment."

A spokesman for Walkabout said: "We haven't considered not selling it. The kangaroo meat we sell is from South Africa anyway."

A motion to confirm the ban will be raised by the Liberal Democrats at a full council meeting next Wednesday, and is expected to have all-party support.

Kangaroos are not farmed, but shot in the outback of Australia away from the scrutiny of the public. Their population has dropped in recent years due to a drought and the demand for kangaroo meat and skin. Official figures from the Australian Government show the numbers of Easter Greys have dropped 63 per cent, Red Kangaroos have dropped 55 per cent and Wallaroos 50 per cent in the last four years.

The city council has blamed the export of kangaroo meat to Europe as one of the driving forces behind the industry.

Exotic meat is becoming increasingly popular with butchers shops, pubs and restaurants around the region.

Recently Sian Thomas, chef at the Cross Guns in Codsall Wood, near Wolverhampton, included such delicacies as zebra steak, braised python and crocodile and kangaroo on the menu.