To some, kangaroos are seen as pests—multiplying uncontrollably, overrunning farmland, and damaging crops. But this narrative, often repeated by frustrated landowners and echoed in policy, is not only misleading—it’s dangerously detached from the truth.

The Reality Behind the Numbers

Despite claims of a kangaroo "explosion," the facts tell a very different—and disturbing—story. The Australian Government’s 2024 estimate of 35.3 million kangaroos across commercial harvest zones may sound high, but this figure is built on shaky ground.

How Are These Numbers Even Measured?

Kangaroo population estimates are primarily derived from aerial surveys—low-flying aircraft or helicopters flying over vast areas, counting animals in sample zones, and then extrapolating those numbers across entire regions. But this method is riddled with problems:

Inconsistent survey methods: Techniques have changed over the years, making comparisons unreliable.
Exaggerated extrapolations: Small sample sizes are scaled up to cover millions of hectares, often leading to inflated figures.
Survey gaps: Many areas are not surveyed at all, yet are still included in population models.
Biologically impossible growth: Between 2011 and 2014, kangaroo numbers were reported to have more than doubled—from 25 million to over 53 million—without any ecological basis.

As one independent review put it:

“The claims about increasing population numbers are biologically impossible. There is zero probability that the claim was correct.”

**Only 24% of Joeys Survive**
Even if populations were growing, the survival rate of joeys tells a different story. Just **1 in 4 joeys** survive to adulthood, with many dying from predation, vehicle strikes, starvation, or being orphaned during culls.

If Kangaroo Numbers Are “Exploding,” Why Are Harvest Rates Plummeting?

In 2024, the government set a commercial harvest quota of nearly 5 million kangaroos. But only 1.2 million were actually harvested—just 3.7% of the supposed national population.

This isn’t a sign of abundance. It’s a red flag.

If kangaroo populations were truly exploding, harvest numbers would be rising—not falling. The reality is that kangaroo densities are dwindling in many regions, and shooters simply can’t find enough animals to meet quotas. This massive gap between quota and actual harvest is not a sign of restraint—it’s a sign of decline.

A Home No Longer Theirs

Kangaroos are being pushed out of the very landscapes they’ve inhabited for tens of thousands of years. Generations of families—mothers, joeys, and elders—have lived peacefully in bushland that is now being cleared for:

Farming and grazing
Urban sprawl and housing estates
Roads, highways, and industrial infrastructure

Imagine a family being forced out of a six-bedroom home into a toilet cubicle. That’s the scale of displacement kangaroos face as their habitats are fragmented into smaller and smaller parcels of land.

The Hidden Killers: The Everyday Tragedies

Beyond the flawed statistics and sanctioned culls, kangaroos are dying in heartbreaking numbers from causes we rarely talk about:

1. Roadkill

Tens of thousands of kangaroos are hit by vehicles every year. Many are killed instantly, but others suffer slow, painful deaths. Orphaned joeys are often found still alive in their mothers’ pouches.

2. Fencing

Barbed wire and mesh fences are silent killers. Kangaroos become entangled trying to jump over or squeeze through, often dying from injuries or exhaustion.

3. Drought

With climate change intensifying, kangaroos are starving and dehydrating in record numbers. Drought-stricken landscapes offer no food or water, especially for the young and old.

4. Wildfires

Bushfires have killed untold numbers of kangaroos. Survivors often suffer severe burns or face starvation in the scorched aftermath.

5. Floods and Storms

Extreme weather events sweep kangaroos away or leave them injured and disoriented. Joeys are especially vulnerable.

6. Illegal Killing

Some people shoot kangaroos for fun, run them down with vehicles, or leave them to suffer. These acts often go unpunished.

The Horror We Ignore

It’s not just a conservation issue—it’s a moral one. We are watching the slow erasure of a species that has shaped our landscapes and culture. And our Government is doing it under the false belief that they are thriving.

What Can Be Done?

Protect remaining bushland from further development.
Reform culling policies to reflect ecological realities, not outdated myths.
Educate the public about the true state of kangaroo populations.
Support wildlife carers and sanctuaries who rescue and rehabilitate injured kangaroos.

Kangaroos are not the enemy. They are survivors—resilient, graceful, and deeply woven into the fabric of this land. It’s time we stop blaming them for our encroachment and start protecting what little they have left.

"The Great Kangaroo Myth: Why the Numbers Just Don’t Add Up"