Wildlife groups criticise Victorian Government s kangaroo count amid 65pc harvest quota increase
WedWednesday 3
FebFebruary 2021 at 5:45am
Victorians will be able to hunt up to 95,680 kangaroos this year under its harvesting program.
(
Share
Print text only
Cancel
Wildlife groups have accused the Victorian Government of massively overinflating numbers in order to support a 65 per cent increase in the number of kangaroos that can be killed for commercial purposes under the Kangaroo Harvesting Program.
Key points:
The Victorian Government has substantially increased the quota of kangaroos that can be harvested
It says the quota is based on an almost 40 per cent increase in their estimated number across the state compared to 2018
Victorian kangaroo meat heading to supermarket shelves under expanded harvest plan
Posted
ThuThursday 28
JanJanuary 2021 at 6:27am
There are almost 2 million kangaroos across Victoria, up almost 40 per cent compared to 2018.
(
Share
Print text only
Cancel
The Victorian Government has increased the number of kangaroos allowed to be killed as part of its controversial kangaroo harvesting program by nearly 40,000.
Key points:
Victoria s kangaroo harvesting program will now include meat for human consumption
The quota in 2021 is 95,680 kangaroos, an increase of 37,780 from last year
The state s kangaroo population is up almost 40 per cent compared to 2018
Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas said the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning estimated the current kangaroo population was almost 2 million across Victoria, up almost 40 per cent compared to 2018.
Close
Kangaroo population all over Australia has been facing a continuous rise in the past few years. Because of the spike in number, authorities from Victoria, Australia, allowed the hunting and harvesting of the animal for human consumption.
(Photo : lucas law on Unsplash)
On Thursday, the state government announced that the 2021 quota allocation for the Kangaroo Harvesting Program would increase by more than 150 percent, from 37,780 in 2019 to 95,680 this year.
Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the increased quota allocation was down to the notable rise in the estimated kangaroo population over the past three years. The 2020 survey estimated the kangaroo population sat at almost two million in Victoria, increasing 40 percent since 2018.