...A Kangaroo Business
Transcript of ...A Kangaroo Business
The kangaroo industry is based on the
harvesting (STERMINIO) of the large species of
kangaroos, which are abundant and are
sustainably harvested in Australia under strict
government control. Many professional ecologists
support this industry on the basis that it delivers
significant environmental benefits.
Products
Kangaroo meat is widely consumed in Australia
and available in most Australian supermarkets.
It is also exported to over 55 countries.
Kangaroo leather is recognized as the strongest
leather in the world and extensively used in first
class sporting shoes and gloves.
It's a very lean meat and because of this it is also
very easy to ruin. It has a very gamey flavour that
is slightly reminiscent of a cross between beef and
venison.
The Harvest Quota Setting Process
For any kangaroo species to be harvested the
States National Parks Authority must have a
detailed Plan approved by the Federal
conservation Department.
These Plans must detail the population monitoring
and take the controls renewed every 5 years.
The populations fluctuate depending on seasonal
conditions, during droughts they can decline, or
they can increase dramatically during good
seasons.
Each kangaroo taken by licensed harvesters must
have such a tag fixed to it. It help to know the
details of the exact number of the tags used, where
the tags were used and what species, sex and
weight of animal they were attached to.
Licensing Controls over Kangaroo Harvesters
In order to purchase the tags issued by the
Authorities an individual must be licensed
as a kangaroo harvester. To be licensed you
have to have had the official training, which
covers the regulatory controls and
compliance requirements, the animal
welfare controls and the hygiene controls
each harvester must adhere to.
Environmental Impacts of Utilising Kangaroos
The Kangaroo Management Plans have been
operating under strict and intensive supervision
for almost 30 years. Over this period the average
harvest per year has been in EXCESS of 2 million
animals.
Environmental Impacts of NOT Utilising Kangaroos
Several trials have indicated that an uncontrolled
kangaroo numbers present a risk to plant
biodiversity. Kangaroos can not be
commercially harvested in National Parks,
as a result their numbers often rise to
staggering levels which sometimes require
culling programs to be used.
Kangaroo utilisation and a new ecological model
To date agricultural development in Australia has
largely been based on modified European
systems, using European animals. In recent
decades this Eurocentric view has come under
considerable academic question. A ground swell
of opinion is developing that Australian’s should
develop management systems adapted to the
specific environmental conditions, not impose
systems adapted to Europe [18].
Under this philosophy utilisation of free ranging
populations of native animals adapted to the
environment makes enormous environmental
wisdom.