Kangaroo management: Individuals and communities

Abstract

Kangaroo management plans for the commercial take of meat and hides and non-commercial population control focus on numbers (estimates of species abundance), proportions (quotas) and trends (sustainability of offtake). Effects on individuals and communities are too readily dismissed leading to inhumane treatment of dependent offspring and single species modelling in a multi-species community. I discuss the evidence for these deficiencies in current management plans and suggest actions and research to redress them.