THE population of kangaroos, Australia’s most prized possession, swelled up to 60 million in the past 3 years.
Ecologists, however, are not too happy about the news and warned that the country’s jumping animals could suffer ‘catastrophic’ deaths if their population is not controlled.
According to experts, it will be kinder to cull them than let them starve especially if the El Niño brings another bout of a devastating drought.
The population of kangaroos can balloon by tens of millions especially when fodder is plentiful coupled with a good wet season.
As of May 2023, the population in Australia is estimated at 26.3 million while the whopping 60 million kangaroos hopping across the country outnumbers its human population.
Experts revealed an estimated 80 or 90% of the marsupials died during the last drought and suggested it is kinder to cull them than let them starve during the upcoming drought.
While kangaroos are not an endangered species, they are considered protected in Australia—this means they can be shot and killed in most jurisdictions, but government permission is needed.
