The Canberra kangaroo kill and the chemistry of caring for other species

Skua and penguin usually don't get along very well. Image via Wikipedia

Scientists roaming sub-Antarctica were startled to discover a penguin that adopted a skua chick—startled because skua eat penguin. Thank goodness science knows why this happened:

King and Emperor penguins often adopt chicks that aren’t their own, either taking on abandoned baby birds or kidnapping those of other penguins.

They may be driven to do so by an increased level of the hormone prolactin, known as the “parenting hormone” because it’s thought to help maintain the bond between chicks and adults when they’re away foraging. It’s not unheard of for a bird to try to raise the young of another species. via BBC – Earth News.

Tough, but no match for the army. via aardvaark at flickr.

So injections of prolactin may be just what’s needed in Australia, where soldiers in Canberra have already begun shooting kangaroos on the Majura army base. They plan to shoot up to 6,000 of the 9,00o roos on the base.

According to BBC:

Officials have said that there is an overpopulation of kangaroos, and that they are damaging the environment.

Now we know the proper punishment, according to Australia, for damaging the environment. But wait. Kangaroos are the environment.

Australia decided it’s too expensive to relocate the kangaroos, even though they have potential as low-emission lawnmowers worldwide, freeing untold millions of hours on Sunday afternoons for lemonade sipping and hammock swinging.

What the world needs now is a little more prolactin.