Kangaroos are iconic Australian wildlife whose welfare is affected by drought, land clearing, vehicle collisions, and a large commercial harvesting industry.
Wild kangaroos experience a range of welfare challenges. Vehicle strikes cause traumatic injuries, often leaving animals to die slowly. Drought progressively weakens individuals over weeks as vegetation becomes scarce. The commercial harvest involves shooting at night, and while regulations require head shots, non-lethal wounding does occur. Orphaned joeys whose mothers are killed represent a significant welfare concern — in-pouch young require specialist care. Land clearing destroys habitat and forces kangaroos into conflict with roads and agricultural fences.