SYDNEY – Tourism Australia has been scrambling to defend its use of a caged kangaroo as part of a publicity stunt on the streets of Los Angeles.
A video posted on YouTube shows a kangaroo crouching on concrete in a cage in Beverly Hills in January as part of the G’Day USA promotional event.
Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd was among those condemning the stunt.
The kangaroo sways constantly, appearing distressed, and a number of animal welfare groups have also condemned its treatment.
But Tourism Australia says the kangaroo was being looked after by professional Los Angeles animal handlers and was treated well while it was on display.
“Any accusation … we take it very seriously if it’s been poorly treated,” Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy told Macquarie Radio.
McEvoy said America Humane – the USA equivalent of Australia’s RSPCA – had seen the video and had said the animal was not in distress.
