The kangaroo is an iconic animal of Australia; however, the Australian government still allows hunters to kill millions of them each year.
According to the Australian government and wildlife experts, the nation needs to cull certain kangaroo species to protect the land and other native animals, as well as to ensure they have enough food during drought periods, CNN reported on March 26.
Australia needs to cull certain kangaroo species to protect the land and other native animals. (Photo: Dreamstime).
When hunting kangaroos, legal hunters can receive a certain fee per kilogram. These animals are killed for their meat and skins, which are exported to approximately 70 other countries — an industry generating $133 million annually, according to the Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia (KIAA).
Each year, Australian officials conduct aerial or ground surveys to determine the kangaroo population. They then set hunting quotas for each area. In Victoria, this quota does not exceed 10%, while in some other states, it is capped at 20%.
According to the latest figures, Australia currently has about 36.5 million kangaroos across five states that allow commercial hunting, including New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia. The quota for this year allows hunters to kill approximately 5 million kangaroos.
The government also sets non-commercial quotas, allowing licensed farmers to cull a certain number of kangaroos on their land.
This policy has outraged some activists. For years, they have campaigned to end what they describe as cruel practices that serve commercial interests.
