Trivia question...

[reynardo]

So ... you're driving along the highway, and it's been a rough time for the local wildlife. Several kangaroos and wallabies have obviously been hit by cars, and are lying dead beside the road in various stages of decomposition. And then you notice that most (but not all) of the critters have a pink "X" prominently spray-painted on them.

Can you guess why? Comments will be screened. Edit: The correct answer (as far as I know) will be revealed on Sunday night, Sydney time.

Comments

[sclerotic-rings.livejournal.com]

Either they've been treated with poison for dingoes, or they're being left specifically as food for other, more eco-tourist attracting critters.

[moxie_man]

Marked by some gov. official for study. The "X" is to warn others that the bodies are to be left where they are.

[beowabbit]

Terrible hate crimes! They were marked for death because of their sexual orientation.

[reynardo.livejournal.com]

You are one sick, sick bunny. We really must meet someday.

[the-funkmeister.livejournal.com]

I've got two possible thoughts:

one) the RSPCA could have them marked for a 'cars, what a menace'-esque report in order to get more traffic lights / safety measures installed along NSW highways.

or,

two) Cef's in town and has earmarked them for a BBQ?

[scascot.livejournal.com]

My guess is that the "X" means that some authority has been notified of the dead animal and its location, and therefore ones with an "X" do not need to be reported.

[sarin-girl.livejournal.com]

um.. to mean they've been checked for babies and stuff?

[panacea1.livejournal.com]

Someone's doing a study and they're trying to get a count. Mark everything that's already out there at a known time, come back 12 or 24 or 48 hours later, and count the fresh ones.

[nefaria.livejournal.com]

I'm guessing it's the highway cleanup crew marking them for future pickup. Makes me wonder why they don't just pick them up immediately instead of marking them and waiting a few days for the corpses to ripen.

[aslanspawh.livejournal.com]

I'm guessing that someone (government or environmental group) was doing a count of wildlife killed by vehicles over time and the "x" indicated that the marked animal was accounted for.

[maelefic.livejournal.com]

Culling Licensing

[verylisa.livejournal.com]

Someone's doing research on roadkill or on kangaroo populations. They mark the ones they've already counted with a pink X so that they don't accidentally re-count them.

[harliquinn.livejournal.com]

"non-consumable?"