Australia’s Hidden Shame — The True Roo Story documentary shows terrible effects of kangaroo overpopulation, starvation

A short doco showing the devastating effects of Australia’s rising 45-million kangaroo population aims to kickstart a conversation about saving the roos — by culling and eating them. WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO

• Drought: Roos, dogs are ‘biggest issues’ in northern pastoral districts
• Kangaroo harvesters’ fees ‘to blame for high roo population’
• Call for non-commercial kangaroo cull as large numbers cause havoc

Ecologists have instigated the creation of a graphic video showing the devastating effects of Australia’s burgeoning kangaroo population, including “millions” of animals starving during the drought.

SA-based Ninti Media has produced the five-minute video after being approached by Eyre Peninsula-based ecologists Katherine Moseby and John Read.

Among the footage are images of a starving kangaroo which has had its eyes pecked out by birds and a joey struggling to suckle milk from its dying mother.

The vision was shot in the state’s Mid North, Far North and Mount Lofty Ranges.

Dr Katherine Moseby, principal scientist at Arid Recovery, near Roxby Downs, said she and her husband, Dr Read, approached the film and photography company after watching the impacts of increasing kangaroo populations over the past 20 years.

“We’re sick of seeing these horrible things happening to kangaroos and no one doing anything about it,” Dr Moseby said.

Kangaroos across Australia are being starving during the drought. Picture: Supplied

The video aimed to increase public awareness about the issue, and also inspire more government support for kangaroo management measures, including finding ways to bolster the commercial meat market.

“We’re trying to show the fact that if you don’t control these animals they end up starving and dying horrible deaths,” Dr Moseby said.

Dr Katherine Moseby with a quoll. Picture: Daniel Clarke, Ninti Media

“We need to manage them and that involves the public accepting that as well as the Government as well.

“There’s not enough money in it for roo shooters and not enough demand for kangaroo meat — a lot of the export markets have dried up … and even local consumption isn’t there.”

Adelaide University Associate Professor David Paton, among scientists interviewed for the video, said there were estimated to be about 45 million kangaroos across Australia.

Their populations had exploded since European colonisation, following human actions such as clearing land for pasture and erecting the dog-proof fence, which controlled the marsupials’ predators.

Assoc-Prof Paton said the Mount Lofty Ranges faced a serious issue with kangaroos overgrazing in conservation reserves, affecting native insects and birds.

“It’s likely to be leading to substantial increased pressure and species loss because they eat out the resources for other animals,” he said.

Kangaroos across Australia are being affected by the drought. Picture: Daniel Clarke, Ninti Media

“This is not just something which is the arid zone — it’s happening on Adelaide’s back door and we need to find a way to manage it.”

Ninti Media co-owner Dan Clarke said the filming the video, which took about a month, was eye-opening and at times, distressing.

He took the footage of a joey struggling to access milk from his dying mother.

“That just set it off for me — I didn’t realise the situation could be that bad,” Mr Clarke said.

“It was really close to a campsite where tourists would come and I thought, ‘How can this be happening under our noses?’”

The company plans to make a longer version of the video to release to film festivals.

A State Government spokesman said the Government was working with landholders and industry to manage kangaroo populations.

“Licensed commercial kangaroo harvest assist in controlling kangaroo numbers as this ensures proper animal welfare practices, promotes regional employment and guarantees the carcass is removed from the land,” he said.

The Government was working with the commercial industry and Livestock SA to develop projects highlighting alternative approaches for managing kangaroos, with a focus on increasing landholder participation in the commercial industry.

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