Grazing Land Management

Victorian kangaroo pet food trial expanded into new council areas

Sheep Central, September 4, 2016

kangaroosVICTORIA’S kangaroo pet food trial will be extended into 2018 and expanded across four new local government areas, the state government has announced.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio said the Greater Bendigo, Glenelg, Loddon and West Wimmera shires will be added to the trial from September 19 2016.

The trial has been underway since 2014 to test whether a sustainable commercial pet food industry could be established using kangaroos controlled under the Authority to Control Wildlife (ATCW) permit system.

The expansion means the trial will encompass the north east Victoria local government areas of Benalla, Greater Bendigo, Loddon, Mansfield, Mitchell, Murrindindi, Strathbogie and Wangaratta. The western Victorian trial areas will now include Ararat, Glenelg, Horsham, Pyrenees, Northern Grampians, Southern Grampians, West Wimmera and Yarriambiack.

Ms D’Ambrosio said the trial has received positive support from participating landowners and the pet food industry, helping to reduce waste by processing more than 30,000 kangaroos for pet food and creating jobs for regional Victoria.

“This trial was set up to examine whether a viable pet food industry can be established using only kangaroos controlled under Authority to Control Wildlife permits, to reduce the waste associated with this control work.

“The expansion of the kangaroo pet food trial into the Greater Bendigo, Glenelg, Loddon and West Wimmera shires follows consultation with local councils,” she said.

The expansion of the trial won’t change the requirement for landholders applying for an ATCW to demonstrate that kangaroos are causing damage to their property.

All participants in the Kangaroo Pet Food Trial must comply with the relevant requirements of the  Wildlife Act 1975 and the Meat Industry Act 1993. There are severe penalties for non-compliance with these Acts and the conditions of any authorisation.

Along with the expansion, a number of other changes are being implemented to improve compliance under the trial, including a tagging system to ensure traceability of kangaroo carcasses from the property where they are controlled through to the pet food processing facility.

The trial requires that the Wildlife Act is closely adhered to and that the National Code of Practice for kangaroo control is used by shooters so that any kangaroo controlled is treated humanely. There are penalties for not complying with the code or with the Wildlife Act.

While kangaroos are a protected species in Victoria, there are situations where kangaroos can cause damage which can negatively affect Victorian farmers, regional communities and biodiversity. The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) issues Authorities to Control Wildlife (ATCWs) under section 28A of the Wildlife Act 1975 for the control of kangaroos where they are demonstrated to be damaging pasture, crops or other property or impacting on biodiversity values. Wherever possible, DELWP advocates non-lethal management of kangaroos, but where non-lethal techniques are ineffective or impractical, lethal control may be necessary, the department said.

Kangaroo Pet Food Trial – Overview  [PDF File – 165.8 KB]
Kangaroo Pet Food Trial – Overview  [MS Word Document – 302.1 KB]

More information about the Kangaroo Pet Food Trial is available at http://www.delwp.vic.gov.au/environment-and-wildlife/wildlife/kangaroos

Source: Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change.

Leave a Reply to VivKay Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Your comment will not appear until it has been moderated.
Contributions that contravene our Comments Policy will not be published.

Comments

  1. Diana Palmer, September 8, 2016

    My family and I think it is an absolute disgrace that our beautiful kangaroos are being killed for pet food. Can’t everyone see how totally lacking in respect for native animals and in the understanding of the consequences, this activity is? The Victorian government is unable to create a compassionate and sustainable economy without plundering the once lustrous environment. Get some intelligent, forward-thinking advisers Mr Andrews, before you turn the state into a dead zone.

  2. This “trial” is a farce. It was never going to fail or be reconsidered in line with facts and evidence. More killing permits will be liberally dispensed with for “problem” and “pest” kangaroos, to keep the supply of meat up to commercial levels. This is unashamedly an introduction to a commercial kangaroo meat industry in Victoria, thanks to declining numbers interstate. Full names required in future for reader comments please VivKay, as per our long-standing comments policy: https://www.sheepcentral.com/about-us/sheep-central-comment-policy/ Editor.

  3. Anyone would think we had an endless supply. It’s not going to last five minutes. Macropods are already an endangered species due to urban and industrial sprawl, hunters, shooters and wankers in speeding vehicles.Full names required in future for reader comments please ‘Realist’, as per our long-standing comments policy: https://www.sheepcentral.com/about-us/sheep-central-comment-policy/ Editor.

  4. Australia is well known for being backwards in using resources naturally and wrapping it up in red tape. For heaven’s sake, get a system going harvesting kangaroos like beef — it is an excellent idea. Get it properly operational before the Chinese steal them. Quality control and human consumption should be next — go for it.

Get Sheep Central's news headlines emailed to you -
FREE!