Working towards effective kangaroo management

The three projects nearing completion as part of the Kangaroo Partnership Project Grants are:

The Kangaroo Management Pilot Project supported land managers to link together to collaboratively manage kangaroos at a landscape scale in the Gawler Ranges. Through this project, land managers trialled the effectiveness of allocating harvesting tags across their properties according to expected landscape needs, with varying results.

One challenge for this approach was the lack of demand for kangaroo products. Because of this, a portion of the funds is now being used to subsidise kangaroo meat harvested on the properties, in an effort to increase local consumer demand through ‘Eat Local’ days. Under the initiative, local social organisations such as Meals on Wheels and aged care homes will be provided with this locally-sourced, healthy and affordable source of protein. It is hoped that support will be found to continue this project in the future.

The Nature Conservation Society of South Australia’s Kangaroo Management Awareness Raising project aimed to increase community awareness of kangaroo management. Its campaign, A Kangaroo Conversation, was launched on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok in March and has an impressive engaged audience. You can check out the campaign through the following platforms:

• Instagram: @akangarooconversation
• Facebook: Kangaroo Conversation
• TikTok: @akangarooconversation
• Twitter: @rooconvo

If you would like to be involved or add input to the campaign, reach out to Madeline McShane (madeline.mcshane@ncssa.asn.au).

Australian Wildlife Services (AWS) worked on pathways to Increasing kangaroo value through improved quality, product diversity, and consistency in the final project. It found that high-value kangaroo products depend on better quality and more accurate product description branding and product diversity. Reliability of supply was key to sustaining higher prices. AWS also explored opportunities for credits from soil carbon sequestration plus potential carbon distance from a low emission meat, and potential credits for stewardship and improved biodiversity.

The Kangaroo Partnership Project committee met for a two day workshop in Port Augusta in early June to evaluate the success of the funded projects and set priorities for the final months, including discussing funding pathways to renew the project for the coming years. It is expected that a broader network workshop will be organised later this year following the end of the funded projects.

While the Kangaroo Partnership Project formally ends in July, program coordinator Emily Gregg will be available to provide support for ongoing priorities and projects until the end of the year.