Khaki Army to protest against dugong and sea turtle killing
A protest will take place in London later this week on behalf of the father of 'the crocodile hunter', the late Steve Irwin, against the killing of dugongs and sea turtles in Australia.
Bob Irwin is calling on an army of khaki-wearing protestors to join the protest on Thursday 19 January from 4-6pm outside the Australian High Commission, in The Strand.
A letter from Bob Irwin will be handed over to the High Commissioner protesting at "the indiscriminate" killing of dugongs and sea turtles in Australia.
The protestis being run by the Earthrace Conservation UK charity on Bob's behalf.
Bob Irwin says the protest will highlight the "indiscriminate slaughter under the so-called native title of our beautiful dugongs and sea turtles here in Australia.
"Australia has failed miserably in the protection of our wildlife and our environment. The rape and destruction of my land continues at a very alarming rate," he says.
"I ask you to come down and wear something khaki - my favourite colour and Steve's as well - or wave a placard condemning the way we treat our wildlife.
"I cannot be there on the day, but I will be there in spirit. Thanks for your concern."
Credit: Earthrace Conservation
Earthrace Conservation UK will be videoing the event and is sending a copy to Bob Irwin.
Similar protests are taking place in New Zealand on Friday 20 January and in Queensland Australia, on 14 February, which Bob Irwin will be attending, along with Earthrace founder Pete Bethune, from New Zealand.
It is reported that over the last year, an average of 25 dugong, including juveniles, are taken each night.
"Australia is destroying natural ecosystems in favour of commerce. The killing of the turtles and dugongs is permitted under the Native Title Act, says Earthrace.
"Hunted down in speed boats Dugongs and Turtles are cut up alive on beaches, often in front of tourists," it claims.
The dugong (Dugong dugon) is a large marine mammal. Along with manatees, it is one of four living species of the order Sirenia. Its closest modern relation, Steller's sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas), was hunted to extinction 300 years ago.
Both turtles and dugongs are considered endangered, although in-depth study has not been done for some time and it is clear numbers are falling. For these reason Bob Irwin, dugong campaigner Colin Riddell and Earthrace are calling for a moratorium on their killings.
Pete Bethune was previously jailed in Japan for boarding the Japanese whaling ship Shonan Maru 2. His vision is to give everyone the chance to get involved in environmental campaigning and to do something extraordinary to preserve our oceans and marine life.
For more details, go to the Facebook event page
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