A Kangaroo Conversation
A Kangaroo Conversation (AKC) is a platform designed to raise public awareness about the complex relationship between kangaroos, communities and the environment in South Australia and beyond.
Who are we?
A Kangaroo Conversation is one part of the Kangaroo Partnership Project which “aims to find the common ground between environmental, economic, social and cultural interests that provide a basis for collaboration and shared responsibility for kangaroo management.”
The Kangaroo Partnership Project is funded by the Landscape Priorities Fund, and you can read more about it here: Landscape South Australia - SA Arid Lands | Kangaroo Partnership
A Kangaroo Conversation is led by the Nature Conservation Society of South Australia ('NCS'). NCS is an established environmental organisation which has been the peak body for protecting, managing and restoring nature in South Australia for over 60 years. NCS has one mission; to ensure that native species and their habitats are conserved throughout South Australian landscapes, safeguarding our unique nature now and for the future. The organization maintains its scientific independence and does not receive funding from the commercial kangaroo industry through the Landscape Priorities Fund.
A Kangaroo Conversation upholds environmental conservation and sustainability at the forefront of its mission. It is hoped that by bringing awareness to the challenges faced by our landscapes and communities, we can better inform management solutions which help our state's precious biodiversity.
Follow us on socials!
Instagram @akangarooconversation
Facebook Kangaroo Conversation
Twitter @rooconvo
TikTok @akangarooconversation
At AKC, we recognize that for many Australians, kangaroos, and the science surrounding them might not be part of everyday discussions. Our aim is to shed light on significant issues concerning kangaroo populations. By doing so, we hope to increase awareness, foster understanding, encourage the formation of individual perspectives, and empower people to make informed decisions as custodians of our environment.
Want to learn more?
Kangaroo Populations
Resources
Various environmental factors have led to the overabundance of kangaroo populations, particularly in South Eastern Australia.
The imbalance can be attributed primarily to the absence of the kangaroo's natural predator, the dingo, especially in regions where the dingo fence has been erected to prevent their entry into agricultural land. The decline in Aboriginal hunting practices due to colonization has further contributed to the lack of population management.
Moreover, landscape modifications for agriculture, such as the creation of watering points and pasture, have provided conditions that allow kangaroos to expand into areas they wouldn't sustain themselves in otherwise. This exacerbates the natural 'boom and bust' population cycles of kangaroos, where populations surge after a good season, only to experience a sharp decline when resources become scarce, leading to severe welfare issues as thousands of kangaroos starve during the bust seasons.
Despite these challenges, kangaroos remain a 'protected species' under the National Parks and Wildlife Act, limiting the scope of population management efforts. While some kangaroos are commercially hunted, the number is relatively low due to a lack of commercial viability.
If you're interested in learning more about some of the research which looks into kangaroo populations, check out the links below:
Overview of current population trends:
2023-Quota-Report.pdf (environment.sa.gov.au)
Literature looking into how ecosystems have changed:
Environmental Impacts
As a conservation organization, we are highly concerned about the impacts that overabundant kangaroo populations can have on native ecosystems.
In particular, kangaroos have been identified as one of the primary threats to bushland regeneration in many areas of South-Eastern Australia. Kangaroos are disproportionately represented in reserves, protected areas and national parks, which means that they are putting a lot of pressure on vulnerable areas where regeneration or conservation works are taking place. Where kangaroos are overabundant, they greatly increase the grazing pressure, putting many plant species, and the other species that depend on them, at risk.
In the midst of a biodiversity crisis, it is critical that we take stronger action to manage overgrazing - from native species like kangaroos as well as invasive species.
If you're interested in learning more about some of the research which looks into the interplay of kangaroos on ecosystems more broadly, check out the links below: