Trial to turn culled kangaroos into pet food expands in western Victoria

KANGAROOS culled in western Victoria will be turned into pet food after the State Government expands a controversial trial.

Kangaroos culled in western Victoria will be turned into pet food after the State Government expands a controversial trial.

KANGAROOS culled in western Victoria will be turned into pet food after the State Government expands a controversial trial.

Hunters in Greater Bendigo, Glenelg, Loddon and West Wimmera shires will be able to deliver carcasses to be processed rather than left to rot.

More than 100,000 kangaroos are now shot per year and 30,000 culled animals have been processed into pet food since the trial began in 2014.

Minister for Environment Lily D’Ambrosio announced the program was now available in 16 local government areas.

“The trial has received positive support from participating landowners and the pet food industry, helping to reduce waste by processing more than 30,000 kangaroos for pet food and creating jobs for regional Victoria,” she said.

“This trial was set up to examine whether a viable pet food industry can be established using only kangaroos.’’

The pet food trial was announced in 2014 and was so successful it was extended to 2018 early this year.

Hunters must have Authority to Control Wildlife permits to participate and can face strict penalties if found not to be culling animals humanely.

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning revealed earlier this year that several shooters had ­received warnings for exceeding the number of kangaroos they were allowed to submit for processing. But said the majority of hunters complied with regulations.

The government has hired two fulltime compliance officers to police the program.

Greens leader Greg Barber has previously called for better scrutiny of shooters.

It comes after the government extended the trial to continue to 2018.

More than 100,000 kangaroos are now culled each year in Victoria, prompting the pet food trial in the bid to minimise carcass waste.

Despite the benefits of the trial, kangaroo advocates continue to rally against culls.

Killed kangaroos cannot be used for human consumption.

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