Proceedings of VetFest 2020 Stephens, T – Working collaboratively to improve kangaroo welfare.

Working collaboratively to improve kangaroo welfare

Tanya Stephens BVSc MSc IAWEL MANZCVS (Animal Welfare) Haberfield Veterinary Hospital

55 Ramsay Street Haberfield NSW tanya7stephens@gmail.com

Introduction Since white settlement in 1788 populations of several large species of kangaroos (macropod family including wallabies) have markedly increased as a result of the introduction of livestock and better pastures and waterholes, control of the dingo and loss of hunting. Increasing numbers of kangaroos create a problem in that they are perceived to be in competition with livestock, impact on the environment and ecosystems and die in large numbers during ‘boom and bust’ cycles. Aerial surveys of the rangelands where most large kangaroos are found, over the past 36 years, show fluctuations between 55 and 20 million in boom and bust cycles. Droughts cause increased competition with livestock and also lead to ‘busts’ with millions of kangaroos dying of starvation. In Eastern Australia between 2013 and 2018 kangaroo numbers dropped by 16 million. It would be fair to say that it is difficult to find a perfect ‘solution’ to the humane management of overabundant kangaroos that satisfies ecologists, landholders, kangaroo harvesters, the kangaroo industry, animal welfare groups, aboriginal communities, animal activists and others. It would also be true to say that in Australia, kangaroos can variously be described as a pest, an asset or a much loved animal that’s off limits for culling or commercial use. The fact that there is a huge divide between city and country dwellers in Australia, a highly urbanised country where most of the population cling to the edges and a colonial, European, mindset towards food makes these perceptions more acute. The Australian landscape would have appeared quite alien to new settlers to this country and many new arrivals had no choice about being transported far from home, the ‘old country’ as the UK was referred to for many years. It seems inevitable that the new arrivals would seek to establish a home away from home replete with familiar animals and source of food. European livestock arrived with the newcomers on the first fleet and at various times other animals to make settlers feel at home. Rabbits, foxes and deer for example. Leaving Australia with a massive and unique pest animal problem. It wasn’t until fairly recently that Australians have expressed an interest in their own locally produced native cuisine although no doubt a leg of kangaroo would likely have made it onto a new settlers table in times past! Kangaroo, however, is a difficult meat to market. It’s more likely to make an appearance as pet food which may detract it from being viewed as a good meat for human consumption. Kangaroos and the kangaroo industry in Australia. The kangaroo industry in Australia is one of the best managed wildlife harvests in the world, based as it is on a sound understanding of the ecology of the kangaroo, adjustable quotas and monitoring of population size. At the moment only a small percentage of the allowable quota is harvested. To an extent this is because animal rights groups have organised bans on the use of kangaroo products overseas.

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Proceedings of VetFest 2020 Stephens, T – Working collaboratively to improve kangaroo welfare.

Currently kangaroos are not of any value to landholders. In fact, they are a cost, from costs of fencing to costs of culling and this has affected the decisions of large investors and corporate agriculture who could better finance better management of kangaroos. Landholders comment that they are left to bear the costs of caring for a national icon. It has been argued that kangaroos should have a value for landholders and that the formation of cooperatives of landholders, working with the commercial industry and sharing profits would improve land management, biodiversity and ultimately, the welfare of kangaroos by changing their status from being a pest to being part of the production system. In addition, on the rangelands, where kangaroo harvesting mostly occurs, it has been estimated that reducing cattle and sheep populations by 20% would lower Australia’s greenhouse gases by 16.4 mega tonnes or 3% of Australia’s total emissions. In the Western rangelands of NSW, landholders had become increasingly concerned about the pressure on the land as a result of massively increased numbers of kangaroos. This concern led to the establishment of the Kangaroo Management Taskforce (KMT). And it’s not just the issue of too many kangaroos coming into conflict with livestock production. There is a growing body of evidence that overabundant numbers of kangaroos can harm the environment - just like too many horses or other large herbivores can, by damaging grasslands. In many areas overgrazing by kangaroos reduces vegetation cover, making small native animals more vulnerable to predation by cats and foxes and rare species find it even harder to survive. In addition, damage to grasslands reduces insect numbers and habitat for ground dwelling birds for nesting and feeding and reduces the number of reptiles. Biodiversity loss is a very real risk. Low methane emitting, environmentally friendly, kangaroos are a good source of protein. It could be argued that to sustainably feed the projected 9 billion people by 2050 and maintain good animal welfare practices, countries should look at harvesting animals that are best suited to the environment of that country. Climate change has already impacted on areas of Australia that are suitable for livestock production so there is even more reason to examine the possibility of co-producing kangaroos alongside livestock. Kangaroos could be a source of international competitive advantage for Australian ‘livestock’ especially with the growing consumer demand for a clean, green and natural product. At the moment this valuable resource is going to waste. The prolonged drought especially in NSW has had a significant impact on kangaroo welfare with millions dying in the West. Huge numbers of kangaroos are believed to exacerbate drought conditions and according to landholders bring drought conditions on earlier than expected. Although commercial harvesting was initially established to control kangaroo numbers it has no impact on the boom and bust cycles of kangaroo numbers and is nowadays seen as a means of humanely harvesting a useful resource. Commercial kangaroo harvesting. Commercial kangaroo harvesting is conducted by professional accredited and licensed harvesters who must adhere to the National Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies for Commercial Purposes (which is currently under review).

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Proceedings of VetFest 2020 Stephens, T – Working collaboratively to improve kangaroo welfare.

In NSW kangaroo management is determined by the NSW Commercial Kangaroo Harvest Management Plan 2017-2021 and the NSW Kangaroo Management Advisory Panel is appointed to provide guidance and ensure that methods of harvesting kangaroos for commercial use are humane. The Panel has members from the KIAA, AVA, RSPCA, DPI, AWMS, NSW Farmers, Academia and Aboriginal community. The commercial harvesting of kangaroos has less welfare concerns than other forms of kangaroo management such as cluster fencing or indeed some other forms of livestock production Kangaroos can only be harvested in certain zones, never in National Parks and always with permission of any landholders. A quota is set based on determination of numbers by aerial surveys. Only red kangaroos, eastern and western kangaroos and euros can be harvested in NSW. Wallabies are harvested in Tasmania. Populations of kangaroos in various zones is determined by aerial surveys and a harvesting quota is set at 15-17% of the total population. The quota is never reached, falling by nearly 90% in recent years. The number of harvesters has declined in NSW. The kangaroo management plan in NSW issues licences, monitors populations, establishes sustainable harvesting quotas, conducts research and reports to the public. Statistics are available on the OEH website. Other states have kangaroo harvesting plans. According to Australian Government figures about 4000 tonnes of kangaroo meat is exported each year accounting for just 3% of the total kangaroo population. Non-commercial culling of kangaroos Non-commercial licences to harm kangaroos for the purpose of damage mitigation and public safety are issued in NSW by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Other States and Territories have kangaroo management plans. The carcasses of kangaroos culled under non-commercial licences cannot be sold, swapped or traded. These licences are available statewide and can be issued for properties where commercial harvesting is also undertaken. In some areas there is a substantial reliance of non-commercial culling for kangaroo control and numbers culled can exceed the commercial cull. In 2018 in NSW the non-commercial cull was almost 50% of the commercial cull, however non-commercial culling figures can be unreliable given that returns for animals culled are not always submitted to the local NPWS Area Office. The National Code of Practice for the humane shooting of kangaroos and wallabies for non-commercial purposes is similar to the commercial Code except that there is no competency testing for shooters. In terms of animal welfare non-commercial culling raises most concern and the kangaroo industry would prefer that commercial shooters undertook non-commercial culling. The kangaroo management taskforce (KMT) A kangaroo management workshop, a joint initiative of the Local Land Services Western Region and Western Lands Advisory Council was held in Cobar in September 5-6, 2016 with the aim of developing an informed and collaborative approach to sustainable kangaroo management in western NSW. The object of the workshop was to update stakeholders on policies and legislation that affect kangaroo numbers, provide information on current kangaroo statistics, identify factors that drive kangaroo numbers, provide recommendations on practical and achievable approaches to kangaroo management including commercial

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Proceedings of VetFest 2020 Stephens, T – Working collaboratively to improve kangaroo welfare.

harvesting and develop a Western Division position on sustainable kangaroo management for submission to the NSW Government. Presenters and participants at this workshop were members of the LLS and WLAC together with landholders, kangaroo ecologists, aboriginal groups, the AVA, Office of Environment and Heritage, the kangaroo industry, kangaroo harvesters, National Parks and Wildlife Services, DPI, NSW Farmers Association, RSPCA and Regional Development Australia. The workshop over two days was a great success with talks and discussion on the impact of kangaroos, humane management, fencing, caring for the environment, the importance of Total Grazing Pressure and support of rural communities. This workshop demonstrated how bringing together a disparate group with a common aim can lead to good outcomes. At the workshop there was much discussion on a predicted drought with landholders stating that they were concerned that once more they would be pulling half dead kangaroos out of waterholes. As a result of the workshop the Kangaroo Management Taskforce NSW was formed and initiated regular teleconferences for a group of participants including the AVA and RSPCA and a Facebook page as well as the production of some short movies and distribution of new material on kangaroo management. In addition, the KMT organised two kangaroo symposia. A kangaroo management Symposium at the Rangelands Conference in the ACT 2-5 September 2019 which focused on the role of kangaroos in rangeland landscapes and opened by Minister Sussan Ley and a symposium held in conjunction with the Ecological Society of Australia Conference in Launceston Tasmania in November 2019. As a result of the symposia a group of concerned scientists produced a statement. “Improving Kangaroo Management - a Joint Statement Kangaroos (macropod family, including wallabies) are iconic and treasured native animals that are integral to Australian cultures and ecosystem function. In the past 200 years, populations of several species of kangaroos in southern Australia have increased due to greater availability of pasture, increased watering points, dingo control and less hunting. Failure to manage excessive numbers of kangaroos leads to adverse consequences for:

• Animal welfare: Millions of kangaroo starve to death in drought. Under current kangaroo management, large numbers of kangaroos are also culled by non-professionals leading to increased welfare risks to individuals and dependent young.

• Environment protection and ecosystems conservation: Despite being native, overabundant kangaroos directly threaten the survival of biodiversity on both private and public lands. They degrade understorey, impact rare plants and compete with less conspicuous native animals for resources & habitat.

• Natural Resource Management: High kangaroo populations compromise regenerative agriculture, pasture conservation and stewardship programs.

• Human health and welfare: Unmanaged kangaroo populations can have significant financial impacts on landholders in terms of production and landscape management. There are also potential mental health impacts due to witnessing starvation, vehicle incidents and having to cull kangaroos. Indirect health impacts include reduced air and water quality as a result of erosion through the degradation of groundcover.

• Food waste: Non-commercial culling results in millions of carcasses being left to rot in the field with implications for both food waste and biosecurity.

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Proceedings of VetFest 2020 Stephens, T – Working collaboratively to improve kangaroo welfare.

Avoiding extreme boom-and-bust cycles of macropods is a challenge for wildlife and land managers, agricultural agencies, regulators and industry. Optimal management would confer significant benefits for kangaroo conservation and welfare; rural communities; human, animal and landscape health; and food security. This Joint Statement arose from symposia in 2019 at the Australian Rangeland Society and the Ecological Society of Australia Conferences. The context and supporting references for this statement will be presented in a special edition of Ecological Management & Restoration. The authors are seeking its endorsement and support. Recommendation: Reform of kangaroo management is urgently required to improve human and animal welfare, conservation and sustainability on both agricultural and conservation lands, and to reduce waste. A National Kangaroo Taskforce, with input from Indigenous, welfare, industry and conservation stakeholders (including ecologists) should be formed to develop a National Kangaroo Strategy to support State and Commonwealth governments and other stakeholders in decision-making around kangaroo management. Terms of Reference for a National Kangaroo Strategy should:

• Reflect and integrate the needs and priorities of all stakeholders, including Indigenous communities and private landholders; and build on existing successful regional initiatives (including those by governments).

• Recognise that maintenance of minimal forage thresholds is integral to retaining healthy landscapes, local kangaroo populations and sustainable production; and to ensure kangaroo densities don’t cause negative environmental, welfare, or economic impacts.

• Identify immediate steps to prevent perverse extreme kangaroo population cycles from re-establishing beyond drought, through identifying clear population thresholds and objectives, roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, and priority knowledge gaps to be addressed by targeted research.

• Recognise that non-lethal population management tools, such as relocation and sterilisation, are often not practical at the scales required and that fencing alone does not prevent population build-up.

• Ensure the highest ethical and humaneness standards and progress towards a system where all harvesting and/or culling of kangaroos is undertaken under a single National Code of Practice.

• Consider opportunities to better integrate kangaroo harvesting into rangeland production systems. Kangaroos evolved with Australia’s fluctuating climate and could be grazed in a complementary way with domestic stock, producing low carbon emission, healthy meat with low impact on soils and vegetation.”

John Read, George Wilson, Rosie Cooney, Graeme Coulson, David Paton, Melissa Snape, Katherine Moseby, Fiona Garland – Dec 2019 The KMT is a good example of how disparate groups can come together to work towards better outcomes for animal welfare. The KMT continues with exchange of ideas, lobbying, producing resources and regular meetings. References Stephens, T. ‘Climate change and food security: cattle and kangaroos’ AVJ. Feb 2018.

NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) environment.nsw.gov.au

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KIAA www.kangarooindustry.com

Wilson, G.R. and Edwards, M. (2019). ‘Professional kangaroo population control leads to better animal welfare, conservation outcomes and avoids waste’. Australian Zoologist. oi:10.7882/AZ.2018.043

McLeod, S.R. and Hacker, R.B. (2019). ‘Balancing stakeholder interests in kangaroo management - historical perspectives and future prospects’. The Rangelands Journal 41, 567-579.

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