Kangaroo Partnership Project
The Kangaroo Partnership Project aims to assist in managing the significant threat to the environment posed by unsustainably high populations of kangaroos, and ultimately improve the landscape and economic resilience of communities in regional South Australia.
Funded by the State Government's Landscape Priorities Fund, the SA Arid Lands Landscape Board, the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board and the South Australian Drought Resilience, Adoption and Innovation Hub (SA Drought Hub), the program gathers key stakeholders together to explore and trial shared solutions.
The need for the project stemmed from record kangaroo populations across South Australian regions in 2017, which were then followed by a massive die off due to the years of drought that followed. The high kangaroo numbers contributed heavily to grazing pressure across the landscape with threats to native plant species at a time when properties had largely destocked and the landscape was unable to cope with the large numbers.
Led by the SA Arid Lands Landscape Board in partnership with landscape boards across five South Australian Landscape regions, the partnership involves landholder, producer, kangaroo industry, conservation, First Nations, government and animal welfare organisations.
It aims to find the common ground between animal welfare, environmental, economic, social and cultural interests that provide a basis for collaboration and shared responsibility for kangaroo management.
In April 2022 key stakeholders were involved in two online workshops designed to increase understanding of the issues and opportunities, strengthen project goals, and foster co-ownership of the partnership among stakeholders. More than 50 cross-sector representatives from around the state attended the two-part online workshop series, including from the kangaroo industry, conservation, animal welfare, land managers and government.
More than 20 organisations are committed to the project including:
Bush Heritage Australia
Ecological Horizons
Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board
Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board
Jumbuck Pastoral
Kokatha Pastoral
Livestock SA
Macro Meats Group
Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board
Northern and Yorke Landscape Board
South Gap Station
SA Water
SA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub
South Australian Professional Field Processors Organisation
The project is facilitated by the Kangaroo Partnership Coordinator, who plays a pivotal independent role through partnership facilitation, stakeholder engagement, and acting as a key contact for landholders interested in on-ground trials. Cassia Paragnani has filled this role since August 2024.
For further information on the program you can contact the coordinator at cassia.paragnani@sa.gov.au.
Grant program 2025
Thank you to those who applied for the 2025 Grant Program. Funding was offered for projects relating to tyrials and demonstrations, research and development, education and awreness raising and innovative ideas associated with improving outcomes in kangaroo management.
Funding was awarded to six projects. They were:
- Trialing AI Smart Gate technology for adaptive macropod management
- FAHM Cam for counting/monitoring of kangaroos and other herbivores
- Roos on the move: Understanding kangaroo movement for improved conservation
- Hop, Skip and a Rump - KI's eco-friendly food source
- SSSA Farmer Assist Program
- Drone technology for kangaroo monitoring - a practical workshop for landholders
Projects will be finalised by mid 2026.
Grant program 2024
As a result of two workshops held early in 2024, a grant-funding program was developed as the key next stage of the Kangaroo Partnership Project.
Funding was offered for projects relating to trials and demonstrations, research and development, education and awareness raising, and innovative ideas associated with improving outcomes in kangaroo management.
Funding was awarded to three projects:
- Increasing kangaroo value through quality, product diversity, reliability and branding
- South Australian Rangelands Kangaroo Collective Pilot
- Kangaroo management raising awareness.
Further details on each of these projects, including who will oversee the projects, is available here and in the newsletter Roo Roundup, below.
- Kangaroo Destruction Permits
- Understanding kangaroo management in South Australia
- Kangaroo Partnership Project Fact Sheet
- Ecological Management and Restoration journal special issue: Optimum management of overabundant macropods
- South Australia Department for Environment and Water yearly quotas and harvest data reports
- NSW Western Local Land Service Pastoral Podcast: Kanga series
- Kangaroo Partnership Program - Executive Summary
- Kangaroo Partnership Program Final report
- Australian Wildlife Services report: Increasing kangaroo value through improved quality, product diversity and consistency
- Kangaroo Management Social License Project - A Kangaroo Conversation Final Report
- Agrifutures report - Market opportunities for methane abatement and carbon storage through improved kangaroo grazing management
- Kangaroo Collective Pilot - Project summary
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