Kangaroo Management Taskforce

Kangaroo Management Taskforce

Overview of kangaroo research and data collection

Table of Contents
  1. Four decades of research and monitoring the populations of kangaroos in New South Wales: one of the best long-term datasets in Australia
  2. Current state of scientific knowledge on kangaroos in the environment, including ecological and economic impact and effect of culling
  3. “Pest” and Resource: A legal history of Australia’s kangaroos

Four decades of research and monitoring the populations of kangaroos in New South Wales: one of the best long-term datasets in Australia

(Lunney, et al., 2018)

This paper highlights the long-term research and monitoring of the four species of large kangaroos in New South Wales and how this data should form the basis of all discourse regarding the sustainability of kangaroo populations in NSW.

Current state of scientific knowledge on kangaroos in the environment, including ecological and economic impact and effect of culling

(Olsen & Braysher, 2000)

Comprehensive survey of the literature on kangaroos as at 2000 on behalf of the Kangaroo Management Advisory Committee.  

Discusses fact that managers need to make decisions based on imperfect knowledge and for taking adaptive management approach. Rather than undertaking detailed scientific studies to try to understand the complex interrelationships, managers, in consultation with other key stakeholders, determine how they think that the system might best be managed and apply the best option in a wide-scale experimental approach. The key is to be specific about what each management program is meant to achieve, to monitor progress and to evaluate results. In doing so it is important to recognise that knowledge and insights can come from programs that fail to meet the desired result as well as from those that succeed. Flexibility is also important, that is, recognising the different circumstances and restrictions at each site and the need to adapt accordingly.

This document includes a thorough overview of the issues and relevant LITERATURE RESOURCES

The literature review was structured to address the 5 major areas of concern:

  1. Compare the effectiveness of various existing and potential methods to control kangaroo populations
    • Shooting
    • Restricting access to water
    • Reintroducing predators – dingoes
    • Immuno-contraception
    • Habitat manipulation
    • Exclusion
    • Poison
    • Trapping and mustering
    • Deterrents
  2. Assess the effectiveness other impacts control kangaroo populations including disease and habitat loss including:
    • Flood
    • Drought and its impact on food
    • Disease – parasites and pathogens
    • Predation
    • Habitat loss and modification
  3. Review the genetic impact of kangaroo culling
  4. Review scientific support and practical application of various grazing management theories 
    • Difference between TGP and TGI (total grazing impact)
    • Carrying capacity theory – eg set an upper limit of kangaroos based on ecological cc (not economic cc)
    • Harvest to pre-defined minimum density
    • Ecological and economic benefits of fewer kangaroos where sheep, cattle or goats continue to graze
    • Sheep compared to kangaroos – ecological and economic impact on native vegetation and pastures; wool production and the economics of properties generally (including fence damage and use of waters)
  5. Assess direct and indirect methods to monitor kangaroo populations in NSW

(Boom, Dror, Ben-Ami, Croft, David B, Cushing, Nancy, & Ramp, Daniel, 2012)

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Produced by THINKK, this article provides an interesting history of kangaroo management in Australia and critiques the historical designation of kangaroos as “pests” that need to be “managed”, arguing that such an approach is inconsistent with current scientific understanding. It explores the shift in regulatory goals from damage mitigation to resource utilisation and the history of attitudes to kangaroos.  The authors present an argument that the commercial kangaroo industry does not have any clearly defined policy benefit and should be reassessed to take greater account of the impact it has on ecosystems and kangaroo welfare.The authors explore the idea that kangaroos occupy an unusual position as both valued icon and pest but dispute the damage mitigation approach to kangaroo management arguing that there is no mechanism to identify or prove the damage that kangaroos are causing.