Question - Kangaroos

1. How many kangaroos required an additional shot to achieve death during the 2022 kangaroo cull.
2. How many other macropods (wallabies, wallaroos) were also killed during the 2022 cull, and if this information is not collected, why not.
3. If the information, referred to in part (2), is not collected, how does the Minister know that the cull is humane and only targets Eastern Grey Kangaroos.
4. Are there any existing arrangements for joeys found in the pouches of shot mothers to be taken to wildlife carers; if so, can the Minister elaborate on any existing arrangements; if not, why not.

(1) Information about the number of kangaroos during the 2022 kangaroo management program that required an additional shot to achieve death is not collected.

However, the operations are subject to an audit by an independent veterinarian under the National Code of Practice for the Humane Culling of Kangaroos and Wallabies for Non-Commercial Purposes. animal welfare assessment of kangaroo culling which is The results from the 2017 audit is publicly available online at https://www.environment.act.gov.au/parksconservation/plants-and-animals/wildlife-management/eastern-grey-kangaroos. An audit of the 2023 kangaroo management program is scheduled with the results to be made publicly available. 

(2) The kangaroo management program is subject to animal welfare audits by an independent veterinarian against the National Code of Practice for the Humane Culling of Kangaroos and Wallabies for Non-Commercial Purposes.

Whilst the culling of target species remains a low risk, independent veterinarian audits conducted in 2013, 2015 and 2017 did not identify any off-target species being culled from 347, 141 and 338 respective observations. An audit of the 2023 kangaroo management program is scheduled with the results to be made publicly available.

(3) Refer to responses (1) and (2).

(4) The Eastern Grey Kangaroo: Controlled Native Species Management Plan established under the Nature Conservation Act 2014 does not permit the hand-rearing of young kangaroos or their release into the ACT. No arrangement exists for joeys found in pouches to be taken to wildlife carers.