Kangaroo killing code draws flak from animal groups

CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australian animal protection groups questioned on Monday a new government guide for the humane killing of kangaroos which recommends "forcefully swinging" the heads of young animals against a vehicle tow bar.

A proposed code of conduct for shooting young kangaroos, called joeys, and smaller wallabies released by the Department of Environment also recommended a single close-range shotgun blast.

"These changes are basically saying the federal government believes it's okay to blast a defenseless joey to bits with a shotgun," Pat O'Brien, President of the Wildlife Protection Association, told local newspapers.

Kangaroos are one of Australia's national symbols and feature on the country's coat-of-arms. But they are also hunted for their meat and in some areas are at plague proportions amid drought.