Kangaroo population reaches new heights
18 October 2012The Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia says kangaroo numbers could reach record numbers within 18 months. Chief executive John Kelly says wet weather has caused a seasonal explosion in numbers.
The conditions are similar to those of 2001 when the federal Department of Environment estimated roo numbers could reach more than 50 million.
Kelly says high numbers are not unusual, but because of the high Australian dollar and market access problems, kangaroo shooting is no longer viable.
Kelly believes kangaroo numbers could reach 52 million by 2013.
"Running into the next drought when we have record populations of kangaroos, it becomes a real problem," he said.
"If there isn't a kangaroo industry there that is controlling the numbers and can reduce the numbers in the face of the next drought, then the agriculture sector is going to find themselves in a very nasty place."
Source: Mitch Grayson, ABC Rural News, Australia (first published February, 2012)
