Why should kangaroos be protected?

Help kangaroos this World Kangaroo Day.

Kangaroos are iconic, powerful, unique, and vital to our shared environment. They’ve hopped across Australia for around 20 million years, are on our Coat of Arms, and feature in tourism advertisements – but they’re also slaughtered in the millions. Their brutal deaths are hidden under the guise of “conservation”, but in reality, they are killed so that their skin and meat can be sold for a profit.

This World Kangaroo Day, you can help kangaroos by learning about them, raising awareness about their suffering, and taking action.

Kangaroos are native animals and play an important role in the ecosystem.

Kangaroos, like all animals, are sentient beings and have a right to exist. They form strong bonds with others and, like us, they mourn the loss of friends and family. Kangaroos are known as ecosystem engineers, as they contribute to the health of landscapes and the ecosystem. They manage the grassland and reduce litter mass; promote the regeneration of native plants by spreading seeds, which can increase biodiversity in the area.

Why are kangaroos slaughtered?

Kangaroos are the most killed land animal in the world.

Despite the kangaroo being “protected” and an international icon, they are part of the largest commercial slaughter of land-based wildlife in the world. They are also victims of climate-induced environmental disasters and car strikes.

The demand for kangaroo meat and skin is responsible for killing millions of kangaroos.

Since colonisation, kangaroos have had a target on their back, as they were seen as an accessible source of food and leather. Once colonies imported and reared farmed animals, hunting kangaroos for food was reduced, but they were still killed for recreation and bounties. This soon developed into a commercial industry, which still exists today.

Every year, state governments set quotas on how many kangaroos can be killed. In NSW alone, a kangaroo is killed every 30 seconds. In the last three decades, almost 90 million kangaroos and wallabies have been shot for their flesh and fibres, which are then sold world-wide.

Kangaroos are killed for trying to survive in a shrinking environment.

On top of the commercial slaughter are private killing permits for “landholders”. Despite natural population controls, such as predation and controlled pregnancies, the government argues that kangaroo populations must be “managed”. They state that if left alone, kangaroo populations become too big and can damage the environment through overgrazing. In reality, kangaroos’ homes are being destroyed and fragmented by land clearing for farms, roads, and other infrastructure. As a result, mobs are forced into smaller areas, which increases their pressure on the environment and can make their numbers appear to be “unsustainable”. Additionally, the sheep industry is responsible for killing the kangaroos predator, the dingo, who would naturally keep population numbers down. The government also claims that they compete with farmed animals for food, but this is somewhat untrue. The reality is, the government, farmers, and other landholders, see kangaroos as an income source and profit is what drives the mass-slaughter.

Kangaroos are often used as a scape-goat for environmental issues. For example, hard-hoofed introduced animals, like cows and sheep, contribute to overgrazing, soil compaction, and erosion. In contrast, kangaroos have large feet which disperse their weight keeping the soil healthy and they spread native seeds in their dung and with their large soft tails. Farmed animals also need more cleared land, reducing biodiversity, and water.

Killing kangaroos destroys health mobs.

Kangaroos live in mobs and have a complex social structure. Within the mob, there are several females, males, joeys, and one dominant male. The dominant male protects the group, breeds with the adult females, and fights the other males to keep them in line and stop them from breeding.

Killing kangaroos destroys mobs. During hunts, the alpha male often becomes the prime target. They are large – and will bring in the most money – and they stand tall to defend the mob against the hunter as the others disperse. When the alpha is killed, the mob is left without a leader. As a result, younger males start to breed (often with younger females), mobs split up, and this increases the number of kangaroos in the area. Doing exactly the opposite of what the slaughter was supposed to do.

If a female is killed and the hunter discovers she has a joey, they can legally bludgeon the joey to death (PDF). If the joey escapes, he will die slowly without the love and protection from their mother.

Kangaroos are victims of environmental disasters.

Environmental disasters, such as droughts, floods, and fires, affect kangaroos, just like us. They not only kill many individuals but also destroy their food sources and shelter. During times of environmental stress, however, female kangaroos have the ability to pause their pregnancy, until the conditions are more favourable. This naturally controls their population numbers until the environment can sustain them.

On top of coping with environmental disasters, kangaroos also have issues of fragmentation of their habitat. When kangaroos leave their home ranges to find safety, they are met with fences, cleared land, other mobs, developments, and roads.

Car strikes kill millions of kangaroos every year.

As kangaroos explore their home ranges, they are often forced to cross roads, placing them at risk of car strikes. Cars hit approximately 10 million animals every year in Australia, with kangaroos being involved in approximately 80% of incidents.

Kangaroos need your help to ensure their survival.

1. Call on your Federal MP to end the slaughter of kangaroos.

Send a letter, asking them to protect kangaroos.

2. Ask Adidas to stop using kangaroo leather on their products.

Send an email to Adidas with the help of Center for a Humane Economy.

3. Ask your local grocery store to stop selling kangaroo products.

Write to your local supermarket asking them to stop supporting the cruel kangaroo killing industry.

4. Live an animal-friendly life.

As a consumer, you hold the power to create a kinder world. By eating plant-based foods and wearing animal-friendly clothing, you’re taking an active step in shifting demands. This shift will reduce the slaughter of both wild animals and farmed animals. Discover new recipes and products today.

5. Drive carefully and carry a wildlife kit.

When driving, always be on the lookout for wildlife. Obey speed limits and slow down on corners and at dusk and dawn. If you regularly drive in rural areas, install spotlights, light bars, wildlife car whistles, or ultra sonic sound devices.

You can also save wildlife care group numbers on your phone, download the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) wildlife rescue app, and carry a wildlife care kit in your car. Before you stop, please ensure it is safe for you. If you are unable to stop, make note of where you saw the animal and call a wildlife rescue group when you find a safe area to pull over. Please remember that kangaroos are wild animals and extreme care should be taken if you are trying to rescue them. We always recommend contacting a rescue group before trying to rescue them.

6. Build a water station in your backyard or place one in the surrounding area.

If you live in areas where kangaroos are present, build a water station for them! Our friends at Animals Australia have put together a simple video to show you how. Click here to watch it.

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