Corporate greed kills Skippy the Bush Kangaroo

From the Daily Mail in England:

Wildlife park where Skippy the Bush Kangaroo was filmed set to close over animal neglect allegations

By Eddie Wrenn
Last updated at 5:23 PM on 23rd July 2009

For years the landscape of this Australian wildlife park was beamed into the homes of millions of people across the world.

As Skippy the Bush Kangaroo became one of the first household ‘names’ in television, families would settle down and enjoy the sight of the marsupial bounding through the 32 acres of Waratah Park Earth Sanctuary, just north of Sydney.

But sadly, the familiar setting to the 1960s classic is set to close amid concerns for the welfare of its remaining animals, with RSPCA officers after two emaciated kangaroos were found close to death.

Chief inspector David O’Shannessy said: ‘The kangaroos were put down on welfare grounds.

‘They were emaciated and very weak. There was no chance of bringing them back to health.

‘We’re still investigating whether neglect was a contributing factor but we do have concerns about the welfare of animals at the park.

‘Inspectors are making regular visits there to try to ensure that the other animals are being looked after.’

Melbourne-based property developer Prudentia Investments took over the park’s three years ago, when it was home to a number of native Australian animals – from the pademelons and bettongs to the bandicoots and potoroos.

But the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) for New South Wales says the developer failed to renew its licence because it refused to carry out basic maintenance works at the site. …

Skippy the Bush Kangaroo was filmed at the park between 1966 and 1968.

Nine-one shows were made there over three seasons. They were broadcast in Britain, Mexico and the US, and countless other countries in the following years.

Despite debuting on black-and-white televisions, the show was filmed in colour which gave it an added longevity, becoming even more popular in repeats.

The supporting cast were Ed Devereaux who played Matt Hammond, the park’s head ranger and Garry Pankhurst, who played his son, Sonny.

But Skippy was the main star – despite being played by at least nine different kangaroos.

August 2010: Two tiny populations of the world’s rarest marsupial – the Gilbert’s potoroo – are thriving, with conservation efforts to save the critically endangered animal paying off: here.

Nice weather for bettongs: using weather events, not climate means, in species distribution models: here.

Tracking Sea lions in Western Australia: here.