‘Misinformed and lazy’: US Senators move to outlaw kangaroo leather again
American politicians have tabled another push to ban the sale of kangaroo products, despite the persistent population issues here in Australia.
Australia’s kangaroo industry council has expressed frustration after the latest push by American politicians to ban the sale of kangaroo products in the US.
Last month two American Senators, Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Cory Booker of New Jersey introduced legislation in Washington particularly targeting the sale and manufacture of products made from kangaroo skin – also known as k-leather.
Australian Wild Game Industry Council president Ray Borda said Senator Duckworth and Senator Booker’s bill was “lazy and misinformed” and the latest in a string of attempts to ban kangaroo leather in various US states.
“Those introducing these bills, I would ask, have they ever been to Australia or onto a farmer’s property or have any scientific experience? I think I know the answer,” Mr Borda said.
“It comes up every couple of years and I look for something new, but there is nothing new, it is just lazy and misinformed.
“These bills imply Australia is irresponsible for allowing this to happen. They attack Australia and attack the scientific community.”
Mr Borda said each year about 1.5 million kangaroos are culled and used commercially, which equates to about a quarter of the government issued quota.
Across Australia, there are 60 different types of kangaroo species, with a population of more than 50 million kangaroos in the nation’s four major varieties.
“They are in plague proportions in some areas and we are a tool to keep numbers under control,” Mr Borda said.
“We don’t take it (this legislation) lightly, we always treat it seriously.
“Kangaroo populations are growing exponentially after so many good seasons in a row and we know farmers and pastoralists have had a hard time with the damage they cause.
“Humanely, we keep numbers under control as best as we can. It is the only mechanism we have to control these numbers.”
The proposed legislation cited civil and criminal penalties of fines up to $10,000 or imprisonment for up to one year, or both, for those who knowingly bring into the US, for commercial purposes, possess with the intent to sell, or sell a kangaroo, or introduce or manufacture or distribute a kangaroo product.
Currently, California is the only US state with a ban in place on the sale of kangaroo leather. Last year sporting goods multinational Nike announced it will swap kangaroo leather in its footwear for synthetics, following in the steps of German-based Puma.
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