Sir Paul McCartney has decided to endorse a campaign initiated by the Bristol-based group Viva!, or Vegetarians International Voice for Animals, to stop the culling of hundreds of kangaroos living on a former communications base near the capital, Canberra.

Overgrazing by marsupials threatens rare vegetation which is considered a shelter for endangered species of lizard and moth, officials said, according to Telegraph.co.uk.

Former Beatles member appears on Viva! website, expressing his indignation caused by the slaughtering of almost 400 kangaroos using tranquilizer darts and then lethal injection.

“There is an urgent need for action to protect kangaroos from a barbaric industry which slaughters them for meat and leather. Please do all you can to help Viva! end this shameful massacre,” Sir Paul says in an online message.

An Australian animal welfare organization, the Wildlife Protection Association, said that its members would act as “human shields” to prevent the culling of the animals.

“I'm sure there will be people standing in front of the dart guns,” said spokesman Pat O'Brien. “People are threatening to climb the fence to disrupt any killing that's taking place. It's going to be pretty nasty.”

Professional shooters will kill the kangaroos by first sedating them with darts and then giving them lethal injections.

Viva! has also claimed that the kangaroos are being culled for meat, which is used for pet food. The federal government issues permits allowing hunters to kill up to 5 million kangaroos per year.

The kangaroos were supposed to be relocated from the national capital. They were to be shot with tranquilizer darts, then transported to their new home into special wagons provided with air-conditioned. But the Canberra authorities dismissed the relocation plan refusing to issue the permits needed for the transport of the animals. They said transporting each animal would have cost as much as a round-the-world-ticket.