Kangaroo management project

The Kangaroo management project is working to maintain populations of the 3 harvestable species of kangaroos in the western region that are:

• healthy
• viable
• sustainable.

This project builds on work done under the You can't manage what you can't measure project.

Project objectives

The project aims to contribute to:

• healthy kangaroo populations with less extreme population fluctuations
• healthy, well managed and resilient landscapes
• culturally safe supply chains for Aboriginal communities to access kangaroo meat
• robust commercial kangaroo industry with employment opportunities and pathways for Aboriginal people
• viable pastoral and agricultural industries
• industry and social acceptance of kangaroos as part of both production and ecology. 

Project background

Kangaroos are one of the most abundant wild mammals in the world. The commercially harvested species are some of the few Australian native animals that have thrived since European settlement.  

Australia has around 50 species of marsupial mammals of the superfamily Macropodoidea. The ‘kangaroos’ on this page refer to the three abundant species harvested in Western NSW:  

• Red Kangaroo (Osphranter rufus)
• Eastern Grey (Macropus giganteus)
• Western Grey (Macropus fuliginosus).  

After more than 40 years of regulated kangaroo harvesting in Australia, the harvested kangaroo species are still abundant.  

Kangaroo numbers increase significantly in good seasons and decrease dramatically in extended periods of drought.  

Large increases in kangaroo populations, also called irruptions, have significant implications on natural resource management and sustainable agriculture. The starvation of millions of kangaroos during drought is considered an unacceptable animal welfare outcome.

Project delivery

The project will provide opportunities and support to producers by:

• ensuring that kangaroo management approaches include real engagement and involvement of Aboriginal communities and are sensitive to their aspirations and cultural needs
• promoting the role that kangaroos play as part of total grazing pressure and encouraging more strategic management of their populations to achieve better landscapes
• encouraging adaptive management approaches that ensure forage ability and seasonal conditions are taken into consideration when issuing commercial tags or licences to harm  
• exploring and promoting innovative approaches to both nonconsumptive and consumptive use of kangaroos.

Work underway

• Trialling the local sourcing and production of kangaroo meat baits for seasonal baiting programs of pest animals.
• Identifying opportunities for improved and culturally safe access to kangaroo for Aboriginal communities in Western NSW.
• Taking an interagency approach to understanding policy barriers to better management and seeking opportunities to overcome them.
• Working with natural resource management (NRM) regions across Australia to identify issues, share information and collaborate on solutions.
• Designing and implementing initiatives on property to reduce grazing pressure from kangaroos while ensuring best practice animal welfare outcomes.