Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia is known for its dangerous wildlife, including venomous snakes, spiders, and crocodiles. However, kangaroos, an Australian icon, have also been responsible for human deaths. While kangaroos are not typically thought of as deadly animals, they have been implicated in several fatalities, both directly and indirectly. From 2000 to 2010, kangaroos were responsible for the deaths of 18 Australians, with most of these incidents related to car accidents. In addition to these indirect fatalities, kangaroos can also be aggressive and attack humans, with several widely reported attacks making international news.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of people killed by kangaroos in Australia between 2000 and 2010 | 18 |
| Number of people killed by magpies in Australia | 3 |
| Number of people killed by cows (including bulls and bovine) in Australia between 2000 and 2010 | 33 |
| Number of people killed by dogs in Australia between 2000 and 2010 | 27 |
| Number of people killed by snakes in Australia between 2000 and 2010 | 14 |
| Number of people killed by crocodiles in Australia between 2000 and 2010 | 9 |
| Number of people killed by emus in Australia between 2000 and 2010 | 5 |
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What You'll Learn
- Kangaroos cause more deaths than shark attacks in Australia
- Kangaroos are culled in Australia due to overpopulation concerns
- Baby kangaroos ('joeys') are often killed during culling
- Sanitation concerns arise from kangaroo meat sourced from the wild
- Kangaroos can be aggressive and pose a physical threat to people
Kangaroos cause more deaths than shark attacks in Australia
Kangaroos are native to Australia and have become iconic in Australian culture since Captain Cook first landed there in 1770. However, they are also involved in a number of attacks on people in the country each year. Between 2000 and 2010, kangaroos (indirectly) caused the deaths of 18 Australians, mostly related to car accidents. This makes kangaroos a deadlier animal in Australia than sharks, which killed 16 people in the same period.
In fact, from 2001 to 2017, Australia had only 27 fatal shark bites—an average of around 1.5 every year. While Australia does get more fatal shark attacks than any other country (60% of the global total over the last 60 years), kangaroos are statistically more dangerous.
Kangaroos can be aggressive towards people, and their attacks have been widely reported in the international media. For example, in 1996, there was a well-known attack on a golf course in Grafton, and in March 2009, a kangaroo smashed through the window of a suburban house in Garran. In 2022, a 77-year-old man died after being attacked by a kangaroo he had been keeping.
There are also ethical concerns around kangaroo culling in Australia. While kangaroos are regarded as pests, the growing evidence suggests that the kangaroo population is not unsustainable and can be managed via more humane means. Widespread culling usually takes place at night, making it difficult to ensure that kangaroos are killed humanely. Guidelines in Australia state that any baby kangaroos ('joeys') found in the pouch of injured or dead adult kangaroos should be killed, to prevent them from starving to death. However, this results in the deaths of 1.1 million joeys each year, which is considered by some to be a huge waste.
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Kangaroos are culled in Australia due to overpopulation concerns
Kangaroos are native to Australia and have become a national icon since Captain Cook first landed there in 1770. However, due to land clearing by early settlers, grassland became more prevalent, leading to an increase in the kangaroo population. This has resulted in concerns about overpopulation, with kangaroos being viewed as pests that compete with livestock for scarce food and water. In response, the Australian government permits license holders to 'cull' or shoot kangaroos, resulting in the largest slaughter of land-based wildlife on the planet.
Ordinarily, it is illegal to kill, buy, sell or possess a kangaroo in Australia. However, the government allows licensed hunters to cull them due to overpopulation. The culling process is controversial, with guidelines stating that any baby kangaroos ('joeys') found in the pouches of injured or dead adult kangaroos must also be killed. This measure aims to prevent the joeys from starving to death, but it results in the deaths of approximately 1.1 million young kangaroos each year.
The culling of kangaroos has led to protests from activists who argue that it is cruel and driven by commercial interests. The carcasses of culled kangaroos are processed for meat, skin, and hides, with the industry being worth 200 million Australian dollars annually. Wildlife experts counter that licensed culling is necessary to maintain sustainable kangaroo populations and prevent animal suffering due to limited resources. They argue that without regulated culling, kangaroos will continue to be shot by landholders, resulting in worse animal welfare outcomes.
The debate surrounding kangaroo culling is complex and emotionally charged. While some argue that culling is necessary for population control and animal welfare, others dispute the accuracy of population estimates and question the cruelty of the practice. The Australian government sets annual quotas for kangaroo culling, but in recent years, these quotas have not been met, with only 4% of the total kangaroo population being eliminated. The culling process also raises concerns about meat sanitation due to the high levels of bacteria found in kangaroo meat samples from supermarkets.
In conclusion, kangaroos are culled in Australia due to concerns about overpopulation and their impact on agriculture. The culling process is legal but controversial, with activists and wildlife experts holding differing views on the necessity and ethics of the practice. The Australian government's approach to kangaroo culling aims to balance population control, animal welfare, and the economic interests of the kangaroo industry.
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Baby kangaroos ('joeys') are often killed during culling
In Australia, kangaroos cause more deaths than shark attacks. However, the culling of kangaroos in the country has sparked concerns about animal welfare, especially regarding the fate of baby kangaroos, or joeys, during these culls.
Ordinarily, it is illegal to kill, buy, sell or possess a kangaroo in Australia. However, the Australian government has allowed the culling of kangaroos due to the growing kangaroo population. This has resulted in the largest slaughter of land-based wildlife on the planet. In the past 20 years, 90 million kangaroos and wallabies have been killed for commercial purposes. Approximately 3 million adult kangaroos are killed in Australia annually.
The culling of kangaroos has led to the deaths of many baby joeys. Guidelines in Australia state that permit holders must kill any joeys found in the pouches of injured or dead adult kangaroos. It is estimated that 1.1 million joeys are killed or left to die from hypothermia, starvation, or predators annually. Many joeys are bludgeoned to death, while others are left behind to die from the cold or exposure. Some joeys are orphaned as a direct or indirect result of the commercial killing of kangaroos.
The National Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies for Commercial Purposes outlines specific guidelines for shooters to minimise the suffering of kangaroos. Shooters are supposed to aim for the brain. If they miss their shot, they must make every reasonable effort to locate the animal and kill it before moving on to another. However, in reality, shooters often shoot randomly to immobilise the kangaroos, causing unnecessary pain and suffering.
The culling of kangaroos has raised ethical concerns, particularly regarding the welfare of baby joeys. The commercial kangaroo industry has been criticised for its treatment of kangaroos, with some people rescuing and caring for orphaned joeys. Scientific studies have also cast doubt on the Australian government's stance that kangaroo numbers are unsustainable, suggesting that the population can be managed through more humane methods.
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Sanitation concerns arise from kangaroo meat sourced from the wild
While kangaroo meat is regarded as a healthy red meat alternative, concerns have been raised about the sanitation of kangaroo meat sourced from the wild. Kangaroos are killed in the wild by licensed shooters, and the environment in which they are killed is far from sanitary. This has led to sanitation concerns about the meat produced for human and pet consumption.
Recent samples of kangaroo meat from Australian supermarkets have indicated high levels of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and salmonella, both of which can cause food poisoning. These bacteria can lead to serious health problems for consumers. The presence of these bacteria on kangaroo meat creates understandable health concerns for the Australian public and overseas exports, impacting the viability of the industry.
To address these sanitation concerns, Australia has implemented strict regulations for the hygienic handling, transport, and processing of kangaroo meat. The Australian Standard for the Hygienic Production of Wild Game Meat for Human Consumption (AS 4464:2007) sets stringent requirements that must be followed by licensed businesses harvesting and processing kangaroo meat. This includes mandatory compliance with export control rules to meet international food safety standards.
To meet these standards, field harvesters must adhere to strict hygiene practices. Specialized vehicles used for carcass transport are licensed and equipped with facilities for handwashing, sanitizing equipment, and providing potable water. Carcasses must be dressed hygienically, hung in clean frames, and transported in a manner that minimizes contamination and maintains specific temperature controls.
While these regulations aim to ensure the sanitation of kangaroo meat sourced from the wild, the challenge of ensuring kangaroos are killed humanely in a non-sanitary environment remains. The presence of high levels of bacteria on supermarket meat highlights the ongoing sanitation concerns associated with kangaroo meat sourced from the wild.
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Kangaroos can be aggressive and pose a physical threat to people
While kangaroo attacks in Australia are rare, kangaroos can be aggressive and pose a physical threat to people. In 2022, a 77-year-old man died after being attacked by a kangaroo he had been keeping as a pet in Redmond, Western Australia. This was the first fatal kangaroo attack reported in Australia since 1936, when William Cruickshank, 38, died in a hospital in Hillston, New South Wales, months after being attacked by a kangaroo.
Kangaroos are usually docile, but they can attack when provoked or cornered, and they have been known to kill dogs. Very occasionally, they can attack even if not provoked. If there is a shortage of food, kangaroos may enter suburbs and attack, either unintentionally or in self-defence. There were two incidents in 1999 and 2002, and 15 to 20 reports in the area between Coffs Harbour and Sydney. Several kangaroo attacks have been widely reported in the international media, including an attack in the Grampians in 1988, an attack on a golf course in Grafton in 1996, and recent attacks in Sunbury and Garran.
Western grey kangaroos, which are common in Australia's southwest, can weigh up to 54 kilograms (119 pounds) and stand 1.3 meters (4 feet 3 inches) tall. The males can be particularly aggressive and fight people using the same techniques as they use with each other. They use their short upper limbs to grapple with their opponent, their muscular tails to take their weight, and then lash out with their powerful clawed hind legs.
Tanya Irwin, who cares for macropods at the Native Animal Rescue service in Perth, said that authorities rarely issue permits to keep kangaroos in Western Australia. "This looks like it was an adult male and they become quite aggressive and they don't do well in captivity," Irwin said. "We don't know what the situation was; if he was in pain or why he was being kept in captivity... they're not a cute animal, they're a wild animal."
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Frequently asked questions
There has only been one fatal kangaroo attack reported in Australia since 1936. However, kangaroos have also been the indirect cause of death for 18 Australians from 2000-2010, mostly related to car accidents.
Between 2000 and 2010, there were 254 reported and confirmed animal-related deaths in Australia. Cows, including bulls and cattle, were the biggest cause of animal-related deaths, with 33 fatalities. Dogs were the third biggest killer, causing 27 deaths.
Yes, Australia is home to many dangerous animals, including snakes, spiders, sharks, crocodiles, cassowaries, stingrays, and stonefish.
Yes, there have been several widely reported kangaroo attacks in Australia in recent years, including attacks in Sunbury and Garran, where a kangaroo smashed through the window of a suburban house.
Yes, kangaroos and roads can be a deadly combination, leading to car accidents and indirect deaths. There are also sanitation concerns with kangaroo meat, which has been found to contain high levels of bacteria, leading to potential health risks for consumers.
