Kangaroo management for landholders

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Why we need to manage kangaroos

Kangaroos are among the most abundant wild mammals in the world. Many species have thrived since European settlement, particularly in western NSW. Pastoral activities have contributed to this by:

increasing artificial water points
reducing predation by wild dogs
changing natural grazing patterns
reducing traditional Aboriginal hunting activities.

After more than 30 years of regulated kangaroo harvesting, populations of harvestable species remain healthy. Their numbers fluctuate with seasonal conditions. Kangaroo numbers increase in good years and declining during drought. In NSW commercial zones, kangaroo numbers peaked at 17.4 million in 2016 and fell to 12.8 million by 2018 due to widespread drought.

Most kangaroos live on pastoral land, where fluctuating numbers can:

increase grazing pressure
affect land management
biodiversity and long-term productivity.

Grazing pressure from kangaroos

Kangaroos are herbivores that mainly eat grasses and forbs. They will sometimes browse shrubs and trees when feed is scarce. Kangaroos digest through a forestomach fermentative process to break down fibrous vegetation. Their diet overlaps with livestock and unmanaged goats, particularly when pasture quality declines.

When feed is plentiful, direct competition with livestock is limited. However, during drought or low feed availability, competition increases. This happens when pasture biomass drops below around 300 kg per hectare in western NSW rangelands, or 400 to 500 kg per hectare in other regions.

Feed demand and consumption

Dry sheep equivalent (DSE)

Kangaroos are typically rated at 0.35 DSE, meaning three kangaroos consume roughly the same feed as one dry sheep.

Daily dry matter intake (DDMI)

When grazing on young grasses, kangaroos eat around half as much (0.46–0.49) as sheep of similar size. When pasture becomes fibrous, kangaroos and sheep consume similar amounts. Kangaroos can also increase food intake by expanding their stomach capacity. This allows them to keep feeding efficiently when forage is dry.

Kangaroos are highly mobile, able to follow patchy rainfall and feed across large areas. They can also graze in paddocks resting from livestock. This makes total grazing pressure management more complex.

Animal welfare

Managing kangaroo numbers helps maintain animal welfare. This is especially true during extended dry periods in semi-arid rangelands. Overpopulation in drought conditions often leads to severe hunger, dehydration, and suffering.

Home range, habitat and access to water

Kangaroos usually live within defined home ranges. These home ranges vary between species and environmental conditions.

Red kangaroos are unevenly spread throughout arid Australia. They prefer open grassy plains with scattered trees. Their home ranges can extend up to 370 hectares, with core areas around 80 hectares. They can travel up to 30km after rainfall to find new feed.

Eastern grey kangaroos live through the east of Australia. Their main populations are in areas receiving more than 250mm of rain per year. They prefer grassy woodlands and forests and usually forage near shelter. Their home ranges range from 37 to 129 hectares, with core ranges from 6 to 26 hectares.

Western grey kangaroos inhabit scrublands and low woodlands across southern Australia. Large males have home ranges about double those of females. Core home ranges for western greys are 7 to 8 hectares, with female home ranges expanding out to 47 hectares and males to 73 hectares.

Kangaroos are efficient water users, gaining most of their moisture from food. Red kangaroos can go a week or two without drinking, and even longer in cool seasons.

Food availability, shade, and safety influence where kangaroos live more than water access.

Management of kangaroo grazing

In NSW’s western rangelands, landholders have a responsibility to manage natural resources. This helps maintain or improve range conditions. In rangeland regions, managing total grazing pressure (TGP) and spelling pastures are essential for:

conserving groundcover
improving perennial grass cover
increasing resilience to drought and climate change.

TGP accounts for grazing from both managed and unmanaged animals, including macropods and goats. Although kangaroos are native, their populations have grown beyond natural limits. This is due to fewer predators and artificial water sources. Managing them is necessary for sustainable land and livestock production.

Commercial harvesting removes some kangaroos from the population. However it has limited effect on the total population density. Combining fencing, rotational grazing, and water management offers the most effective long-term control.

The goal is to maintain healthy kangaroo populations while reducing total grazing pressure. This helps improve land condition and long-term productivity.

Fencing and water point management

The most effective long-term control combines fencing, rotational grazing, and water management. These strategies work best when used together as part of an integrated approach to total grazing pressure control.

TGP Fencing

Mesh fencing, such as Hingejoint™ types around 1,200 mm high, can reduce kangaroo movement. Most kangaroos will avoid jumping these fences unless stressed. TGP fencing is increasingly used in western NSW to control both unmanaged goats and kangaroos.

Cluster fences

A cluster group is an incorporated group of landholders. They work together to develop a multi-property pest management zone. This approach reduces cost per hectare and improves large-scale pest management outcomes. Cluster fences need a body corporate entity to:

communal maintenance issues
compliance
collaborative management plans for wildlife and pests.

Multi-species exclusion fencing

Multi-species fences control kangaroos, wild dogs, goats, and feral pigs. They usually include fine-mesh wire up to 1,500 mm high with outward-facing aprons. While costly (around $8,000–$9,000 per km), these fences can pay off through higher productivity and reduced pest control costs.

Controlling access to water

Turning off or closing artificial water points when destocking helps manage grazing pressure. Closing water alone has limited impact. This is because kangaroos mostly rely on moisture from food. Effective control requires an integrated approach across all nearby paddocks.

Commercial and non-commercial harvesting

Landholders can apply for licences to manage kangaroo populations.

Non-commercial culling

You can apply for a non-commercial licence to manage kangaroos for damage mitigation or public safety. The National Parks and Wildlife Service issues non-commercial licences to harm kangaroos.

Read the best practice guide for volunteer shooters involved in non-commercial kangaroo culling.

Commercial harvesting

Commercial harvesting is highly regulated and designed to ensure humane, sustainable practices.

Professional harvesters must:

be accredited,
undergo regular accuracy testing
have game harvester accreditation to meet food hygiene standards.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) issues licences for commercial harvesting under the Commercial Kangaroo Management Program.