Premier

Kangaroo Pet Food Trial Extended

30 March 2018

Victoria’s kangaroo pet food trial has been extended for another year to provide greater certainty for the industry and provide time to assess the program over a longer period.

The trial began 2014, to determine the effectiveness of pet food processing as a means to reduce waste of carcasses of kangaroos controlled under the Authority to Control Wildlife permit system.

Kangaroos that are humanely controlled under strict permit conditions and that would otherwise be left to decompose or buried, are being converted into pet food under the trial.

The trial has been well-received by participating landholders, pet meat processors, shooters and regional communities.

The Andrews Labor Government conducted a state-wide kangaroo population survey in September 2017 — the first to be conducted in Victoria.

The results of the survey found that the overall kangaroo population in Victoria was conservatively estimated to be approximately 1.4 million kangaroos.

During the one-year extension, the kangaroo population survey will be repeated to enable the Government to better assess whether changes to management activities under the Authority to Control Wildlife permit system and the trial, is sustainable for Victoria’s kangaroo populations.

The Kangaroo Pet Food Trial will continue until 31 March 2019 in 16 local government areas.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio

“We’re extending the trial for a year to provide certainty to the industry and provide time for further assessment of the program.”

“The extension will give us time to learn more about what’s working and what isn’t.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

Was this page helpful?