Kangaroo industry

Annually about 3 percent of Australia’s 50 million kangaroos are utilized for their meat, which is served in many Australian restaurants and sold in some supermarkets.

Since kangaroos emit smaller amounts of methane compared to cattle and sheep, their meat is sometimes advertised in this context.

Since many people see kangaroos as pest animals (and numbers have to be limited with annual culling) using the leather, when the meat is also utilized is seen as sustainable.

They advocate applying under regulated quotas for the limitation of kangaroo populations, because they can overgraze, which can lead to both, a loss of biodiversity, and conflicts with farmers.

[8][7] The ‘National code of practice for the humane shooting of kangaroos and wallabies for non-commercial purposes’ specifies the minimum high-calibre hunting weapon which are permitted, and requires all animals to be head-shot.

Recently concerns have arisen, regarding the impact the overgrazing by large kangaroo populations on other species and ecological communities.

In 2022 a study by the University of New South Wales has illustrated that kangaroo overgrazing in nature reserves impairs soils and vegetation, and thus endangers the biodiversity.

Fenced sections in natural reserves are especially designed to keep unwanted animals (such as kangaroos and rabbits) outside, so that the native vegetation can regenerate.

[11] A project conducted by NSW Department of Agriculture, employed a field study and computer modeling techniques, to find out why kangaroo populations are so resilient to being limited in accordance with set quotas.

The project showed that between 20 and 40 percent of any area will rarely be visited by a kangaroo hunters because the terrain is too rough or other limitations make it not economic to do so.

[10][11] Kangaroos can not be commercially hunted in National Parks; as a result, their numbers often rise to excessive levels which sometimes require culling programs to be used.

[14] A project implemented by University of New South Wales aimed at encouraging the development of farm enterprises based on using native plants and animals (specifically kangaroos).