- Title: GERMANY: FARMER BREEDS KANGAROOS FOR THEIR MEAT
- Date: 27th January 1996
- Summary: FICHTELGEBIRGE, NEAR BAYREUTH, GERMANY (RECENT) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. CU SIGN READING 'KANGAROOS NEXT 10 KILOMETRES' 0.13 2. SV/LV KANGAROOS BEING FED/ HOPPING AROUND (6 SHOTS) 1.04 3. SV/CU KANGAROO EATING BANANA (2 SHOTS) 1.23 4. SCU/SV FRANK THELEMANN, PROJECT MANAGER, SAYING: 'OUR ANIMALS CAME FROM SNOWY MOUNTAINS IN AUSTRALIA. THEY ARE USED TO COLD WEATHER AND SNOW. THEY HAVE BEEN HERE FOR THE PAST 6 YEARS. LAST YEAR WE HAD FOUR BIRTHS, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUNG ANIMALS ARE DOING VERY WELL. WE ARE GOING TO START A PROJECT THIS SPRING ON THE DANISH ISLAND OF BORNHOLM. WE ARE PLANNING TO START WITH TWO HUNDRED ANIMALS. WE INTEND TO BREED THEM FOR THEIR MEAT. OUR GREAT ADVANTAGE IS THE FACT THAT OUR ANIMALS ARE FREE RANGING AND THIS IS WHY THEIR MEAT IS SO HEALTHY (GERMAN) (4 SHOTS) 2.35 5. LV EXT HOUSE 2.41 6. LV INT PEOPLE SEATED AROUND TABLE/ CU FOOD ON PLATE/ SV KANGAROO OWNER, CARL-JAMES ASIMUS, SAYING: 'IF YOU CONSIDER THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH BSE AND BEEF, AND FAT IN PIGS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH CHICKENS BEING KEPT IN VERY INHUMANE CONDITIONS, THEN KANGAROOS WHICH ARE FREE RANGE ARE A VERY GOOD ALTERNATIVE AS A TOTALLY NATURAL FORM OF FOOD' (ENGLISH) (4 SHOTS) 3.19 7. LV KANGAROOS HOPPING ABOUT IN SNOW (2 SHOTS) 3.37 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 11th February 1996 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: FICHTELGEBIRGE, NEAR BAYREUTH, GERMANY
- City:
- Country: Germany
- Reuters ID: LVAD7CPQ12EXUAVL715CF1616G1W
- Story Text: INTRO: A pilot project to test whether kangaroos can be commercially farmed in northern Europe has leapt off to a good start at a farm in Bavaria.
A German-born Australian has decided to try and find out if kangaroos can be bred in northern Europe, in an attempt to try and fill a perceived gap in a market suffering from fears of mad cow disease.
And so far it's doing well with the antipodean marsupials apparently adapting quickly to the cold European weather.
Frank Thelemann, the manager of the project which so far includes twelve kangaroos, said the animals were getting used to the cold weather and snow.
The man who thought up the idea, Australian Carl-James Asimus, hopes kangaroo meat will grow in popularity in Europe, especially at a time when many people fear eating beef infected with BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopothy).
"If you consider the problems associated with BSE and beef, and the problems with chickens being kept in very inhumane conditions, then kangaroos, which are free range,are a very, very good alternative and a very natural form of food", Asimus said.
The first commercial kangaroo farm sponsored by the European Union (EU) is due to open in Denmark this spring. It will have two hundred animals which will be bred for their meat.
Kangaroo meat, which is high in proteins, only contains two percent fat. The breeders are hoping to sell a kilo of kangaroo steak for about 50 German marks (30 United States dollars).
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