STOP SHOOTING SKIPPY FOR SPORTS GEAR!

2.36.39pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 4th Sep 2007

LibDem MEP Liz Lynne is pleading for people to stop before buying football or rugby boots that may be made from kangaroo skins.

Liz, who represents the West Midlands at the European Parliament and is a formidable campaigner against animal cruelty, was horrified to learn that consumers are sometimes unaware of what they are buying and of the methods used to get the leather.

"It is shocking that people buying sports equipment are unwittingly sanctioning the unnecessary slaughter of wild kangaroos."

"Research shows that while they are supposed to be killed quickly and humanely, they are hunted wild and so this is not easily done. They are often shot in the upper body and escape only to die slowly of their injuries."

Baby kangaroos are often innocent by-standers that end up pulled out of their dead mother's pouches to be clubbed or stamped on, their size meaning they are of no commercial interest.

Liz added:

"The Australian government organises periodic 'humane harvesting' of the animals, while manufacturers could and should make more use of the quality synthetic fabrics available. Instead they choose to perpetuate the horrific slaughter of Australia's national icon."

"I urge consumers to look out for and avoid products labeled 'K-leather' or 'RKT' and ask producers more often what their products consist of."

"I have written today to the European Commission asking them to consider bringing forward a proposal to ban the use and sale of kangaroo skin, as they did recently for cat and dog fur. This appalling slaughter must end!"

ENDS.

Notes to Editors

In the United States, the Californian Supreme Court recently banned the sale of football boots and other products made from kangaroo leather, Liz is now calling on EU authorities to consider a similar ban.

Liz Lynne recently spoke in strong support of the recent EU proposal for a ban on the import of cat and dog fur into the European Union due to the horrific practices often involved in their slaughter in the Far East.

Australia exports approximately 3 million kangaroo skins, worth more than £12 million, to Europe and the USA every year. The vast majority of these skins are used to make football boots, some are used for golf gloves, baseball mitts and other sports goods.

Each year, the Australian government sets a quota for the number of kangaroos the industry can kill. For 2003, the quota is 6.5million. British soccer star David Beckham has announced that he will no longer wear shoes made with kangaroo hide, according to published reports