Kanga series: EP 3 - Kangaroos and Drought

Drought is a stressful time for any farmer trying to balance competing business, livestock and landscape demands. In this episode, we’ll hear from a farmer about his experience living through the latest drought with unmanaged, overabundant kangaroos on his property. Kangaroos also struggle in drought with inevitable dehydration and starvation from lack of food and water.  So what can be done about it? We’ll hear from an animal welfare expert about the different ways kangaroos are managed on agricultural properties, the impact on animals and what the general public thinks.  Join us to see how the use of new tools and how being proactive instead of reactive, will help both landholders and kangaroos in this challenging situation. Guests featured in this episode include: Leon Zanker – Pastoralist from Western NSW Dr. Trudy Sharp - Research Scientist, Vertebrate pest research unit, NSW DPI Dr. Steve McLeod -  Manager Vertebrate Pest Research | Invasive Species Biosecurity Other useful resources The National Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies for Commercial Purposes (the Code) https://www.agrifutures.com.au/product/national-code-of-practice-for-the-humane-shooting-of-kangaroos-and-wallabies-for-commercial-purposes The National Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies for Non-Commercial Purposes https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/wildlife-trade/publications/national-code-practice-humane-shooting-kangaroos-and-wallabies-non-commercial The Kangaroo Management Taskforce website has several resources including a page on Animal Welfare https://kangaroomanagementtaskforce.com.au/animal-welfare/ KMT film launched in 2022 - A Million Dead Icons - https://youtu.be/HsWcYWiOrTM Kangaroo Management Taskforce Facebook page - facebook.com/kangarootaskforce Read Leon Zanker’s story in Ecological Management and Restoration - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/emr.12441 The Pastoral Poddy is brought to you by Western Local Land Services and the kangaroo series is supported through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.