Animals Australia joins the International Kangaroo Protection Alliance.

Animals Australia is proud to join this international group of wildlife advocates on behalf of our members, to help shape a future where kangaroos are respected and protected.

The International Kangaroo Protection Alliance (IKPA) is an alliance of organisations and experts committed to raising awareness of the plight of kangaroos to people across Australia and the globe. 

Not only do kangaroos hold a crucial role in healthy Australian ecosystems, but they also have intrinsic value, and think, feel and experience just like the companion animals we share our homes with. 

Together, Animals Australia, our members, and all the dedicated advocates in the IKPA are working to ensure kangaroos and people can coexist, thrive, and share the land we call home. 

Why do kangaroos need protection? 

Despite being adored by people the world over, Australia’s federal and state governments allow ‘protected’ kangaroos to be shot, injured and killed each night across the country.  

This government-sanctioned killing of an Australian icon is happening at the very same time Australia’s native animal populations are suffering from the impacts of habitat destruction. With swathes of land being cleared (largely to graze more cattle for beef and dairy) and catastrophic weather events like the Black Summer bushfires, their homes and food sources are diminishing. 

It comes as a surprise to most that the laws in place to protect kangaroos can be lifted with government exemptions, allowing them to be shot. The Federal and State Governments give these exemptions for the commercial sale of meat and skin to domestic and international markets, and through state-based kill permits on request from land managers with generally very few requirements to seek alternative ways to co-exist with native wildlife.

Due to the often remote locations where kangaroo shooting occurs as well as the fact that it occurs mostly at night, there is no effective monitoring of animal welfare in place. When mothers are shot, the fate of orphaned joeys who are too small to be of any ‘commercial value’ to hunters is grim. Depending on their size, they can legally be decapitated or bludgeoned to death. If they escape, they are at risk of falling victim to predators, exposure to the elements or starvation. 

The shocking reality of kangaroo shooting was recently aired in a confronting ABC 7.30 report. 

If kangaroos continue to be killed at the current rate allowed by the Australian Government, there is a chance that Australia faces a future where this beloved native animal is nothing but a memory. 

How you can help kangaroos 

• Call on the Federal Government to end the commercial slaughter of kangaroos. 

• View acclaimed documentary ‘Kangaroo: A Love-Hate Story’ or arrange a screening within your community. 

• Don’t buy into cruelty – for you or your pet. Instead of buying kangaroo meat or skin, choose animal-friendly foods and products. You can also urge restaurants, supermarkets, and stores in your area to remove any kangaroo products.