A must listen podcast for pastoralists. Providing stories, insights and research from farmers and experts to support farm productivity and healthy environments. Practical information for the management of sheep and goats. This podcast shares the stories of the arid and semi-arid areas of New South Wales commonly referred to as ‘rangelands’ and the management principles that underlie the sustainable utilisation of these areas by extensive grazing industries including livestock management, grazing pressure and rangeland rehabilitation. Produced by the Grow Love Project for Western LLS.
https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/regions/western
episode 3: Kanga series: EP 3 - Kangaroos and Drought
Drought is a stressful time for any farmer trying to balance competing business, livestock and landscape demands. In this episode, we’ll hear from a farmer about his experience living through the latest drought with unmanaged, overabundant kangaroos on his property. Kangaroos also struggle in drought with inevitable dehydration and starvation from lack of food and water.
So what can be done about it? We’ll hear from an animal welfare expert about the different ways kangaroos are managed on agricultural properties, the impact on animals and what the general public thinks. Join us to see how the use of new tools and how being proactive instead of reactive, will help both landholders and kangaroos in this challenging situation.
Guests featured in this episode include:
- Leon Zanker – Pastoralist from Western NSW
- Dr. Trudy Sharp - Research Scientist, Vertebrate pest research unit, NSW DPI
- Dr. Steve McLeod - Manager Vertebrate Pest Research | Invasive Species Biosecurity
Other useful resources
The National Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies for Commercial Purposes (the Code)
https://www.agrifutures.com.au/product/national-code-of-practice-for-the-humane-shooting-of-kangaroos-and-wallabies-for-commercial-purposes
The National Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies for Non-Commercial Purposes
https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/wildlife-trade/publications/national-code-practice-humane-shooting-kangaroos-and-wallabies-non-commercial
The Kangaroo Management Taskforce website has several resources including a page on Animal Welfare
https://kangaroomanagementtaskforce.com.au/animal-welfare/
KMT film launched in 2022 - A Million Dead Icons - https://youtu.be/HsWcYWiOrTM
Kangaroo Management Taskforce Facebook page - facebook.com/kangarootaskforce
Read Leon Zanker’s story in Ecological Management and Restoration - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/emr.12441
The Pastoral Poddy is brought to you by Western Local Land Services and the kangaroo series is supported through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.