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A wildlife sanctuary operator says he fears for the safety of his family and rescued animals after receiving online threats and hearing midnight gunfire near his property, just days after giving evidence to a NSW parliamentary inquiry probing kangaroo shooting practices.
Peter Day, president of Badgerys Creek Wildlife Sanctuary, claims he became the target of intimidation after appearing before an upper house inquiry examining licences to harm native animals and the commercial harvesting of kangaroos.
During the inquiry, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party MP Robert Borsak challenged Day over his calls for stricter welfare practices, including veterinary supervision during kangaroo harvesting operations.
Borsak later posted a 27-second snippet of the exchange to his public Facebook page, captioned: “The agenda just doesn’t stop. They’re saying kangaroo shooters need vets to supervise them now?”
The post attracted more than 1200 comments, including comments directed at Day. “Shoot him as well,” one user wrote. Another commented: “This bloke needs one between the eyes,” while others called for Day to be castrated.
Within days of the social media post, Day said his family was woken by the sound of high-calibre rifle fire within 150 metres of the sanctuary, which borders South East Forest National Park.
“I’ve been here for 12 years and heard shots maybe twice,” Day said. “Then, suddenly, high-calibre rounds are being let off on our boundary late at night. My wife is terrified.”
The sanctuary rehabilitates injured kangaroos and other native wildlife, including joeys orphaned after their mothers are shot. Many recovering animals are housed in open paddocks which Day said left them vulnerable to attack.
Day had appeared before the inquiry to challenge claims that kangaroo populations were exploding unchecked, telling the committee that kangaroos did not “breed like rabbits” and that population growth was heavily influenced by environmental conditions such as rainfall and drought.
He also advocated for tighter welfare oversight, including veterinary supervision of commercial harvesting operations – comments he believes triggered the backlash.
During hearings, Borsak accused Day of disregarding the realities faced by rural landowners.
“Isn’t your evidence really about providing no regard at all for the overall population management … that you want nothing to be killed full stop?” he said.
Borsak was contacted by The Herald for comment about the post but did not provide a response.
Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst, who chaired the inquiry, said she was “furious about the lack of regard to witness safety” and described the allegations as “exceptionally serious”.
Kate Geraghty
Day said the sudden security threat has forced him to become “extra vigilant,” regularly checking CCTV cameras at his property.
“To be threatened with your life for giving evidence – that’s something you expect to hear about in places like the Amazon,” he said.
“If people are threatened for speaking up in this way, eventually they just won’t participate and that’s not good for democracy.”
NSW Police said checks with local police districts suggested the alleged incidents may not have been reported.
The inquiry’s terms of reference is examining current population control programs, welfare impacts, and non-lethal alternatives to current management practices.
According to a NSW Environment department report in December, there are an estimated 9.6 million kangaroos across the state’s commercial harvesting zones, with the 2026 quota allowing for up to 1.45 million to be legally harvested.
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David Barwell is an urban affairs reporter for The Sydney Morning HeraldConnect via email.From our partners
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