Kangaroo Management

Kangaroo Management and over grazing

Since European settlement, widespread changes in land use have altered the landscape and conversely the species present, their status, distribution and   

Through our farming and land management practises many species have declined, however, other species have been able to adapt to the changes and used the opportunity provided by altered habitat to thrive of these one of the most successful is the kangaroo.

Kangaroos are now more widespread and abundant than before settlement. With kangaroo impacts in south Australia recently reaching record numbers following a series of good seasons. Kangaroos have increased to an estimated high of 5 million (In the regions of South Australia where the commercial harvest requires audits of species density.)  Whilst the annual ‘Kangaroo count’ does not include the region in which the 16:6 Heritage Agreement is located; it is estimated that the population of Kangaroos in our area is very secure, to abundant.

Overgrazing by our native herbivores is widely recognised as a threatening process in Australia's semi-arid lands. With the current high number of kangaroos across 16:6 it is likely that some negative impacts such as reduced vegetation cover, a shift in vegetation towards unpalatable species,  and changes to soil structure such as compaction and exposure from over browsing.

The above image is Westringia in its normal state and when over-grazed by kangaroos

Why do we manage kangaroo numbers?

Primarily for management of over abundant natives,  is about controlling land degradation and also it is important for animal welfare as too many animals of any species results in poor diet, (competition) a struggle for limited resources and potential death if numbers become unsustainable?

The means of controlling kangaroos are either localised or broad, such as disruption of individuals  through fencing, removing water sources ( behavioural changes)  or even lawful destruction – through to commercial harvest

Ongoing research shows that removal of water points  will significantly reduce kangaroo numbers if they are too high.  So how do you know if there’s too many Kangaroos.

Methods

Counting skats over a metre square (more than ten is over population)

Develop exclusion zones with cameras to monitor movement

Walking or driving and undertaking population counts

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Watch this space as whilst we are not enthusiastic about kangaroo reduction, control methods may be required in the longer term as current on site indications are that the numbers of Macropods are high enough to be negatively impacting the native vegetation recruitment and regeneration

kangaroo visiting a Mallee Fowl mound