There are grave concerns for the future of our magnificent marsupial as it struggles to survive against drought, loss of habitat, encroachment of civilisation, illegal and legal culling by farmers, road side deaths as well as culling in state forests, parks, reserves, national parks, and of course the Kangaroo Industry which kills millions annually (3.6 million 2008) to supply meat for export and pet food, and skins to sports shoe companies in Europe Asia and USA.

Recent data shows that across most of NSW, QLD and SA, three of the four states that allow commercial hunting, kangaroos are at levels of less than 5 per square kilometre (see "Decimation of an Icon" report above). This has been identified as "quasi extinction" which means "the effective loss of the species", and "at significant risk of extinction" by Dr Tony Pople and the Murray Darling Report. Nevertheless the government supports the continuation of the industry and its quota of up to 20% of the population in these areas.

GoOD-BYE JoEY

After the mother kangaroo is killed by the industry, often painfully and observed by the rest of the mob, her joey is wrenched from her pouch and bashed against a bull bar or with a steel pipe. (National Code of Practice, Humane Destruction of Kangaroos and joeys, Environment Australia).

Her juvenile ex pouch joey witnesses these events, and is often orphaned and left to die a slow and lonely death from starvation stress and exposure, unable to survive without its mother. Kangaroos are extremely sensitive and loyal creatures and the effects of this ongoing killing by farmers and the industry leaves them in a constant state of fear and terror, for themselves their joey and their mob.