Kangaroos cost farmers thousands of dollars each year, but a test program that uses satellites to map native species is expected to solve the problem.
Key points:
- Farmers are using satellites to track kangaroos to improve pest management in western NSW
- Owner Graham Turner says native species eat more than 50 percent of livestock feed
- Western Local Land Service hopes project will prevent “millions of kangaroos from starving”
Scientists and landowners in West New South Wales have teamed up to create a tool that provides farmers with real-time data on where kangaroos are located on their property.
The project involves using aerial imagery of satellites and aircraft to create maps of the distribution and density of kangaroo populations.
Fiona Garland, of the Western Local Land Service’s kangaroo management team, said it would allow farmers to reduce the losses associated with kangaroos eating pastures and crops.
“The properties are so large that it’s hard to know that your paddocks have been eaten by kangaroos until you come out when the damage is already done,” he said.
“It’s about being proactive rather than reactive.”
Half a dozen properties stretching from Nyngan to Broken Hill have been involved in the development of the project.
Broken Hill farmer Graham Turner and his wife Abby manage merino sheep and goats. (Provided by: Graham Turner)
Graham Turner is a sheep and goat farmer located 150 miles north of Broken Hill.
He said there is currently no way to stop kangaroos from eating half of their food available for livestock.
“They account for more than 50 percent of the pressure on grazing on the farm and we don’t have any viable tools to manage the figures.
“There is currently no real effective tool to manage them.”
Turner said when left unchecked, kangaroos caused significant damage to habitat.
“They are a very hardy and resilient animal that will live very easily to the detriment of the landscape.
“When numbers pile up a lot, the landscape is consumed for nothing at a huge ecological cost before their numbers are reduced.”
The University of NSW found that the dingo fence has caused a “rise and fall” in kangaroo populations. (ABC Eyre Peninsula: Gary-Jon Lysaght)
Dingos and drought
The Australian Dingo Fence stretches over 5,600 miles across New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia.
A study from the University of New South Wales found that the fence had a “remarkable” impact on the landscape, as predators keep kangaroo populations under control.
Ms Garland said the fence helps keep wild dogs and dingos out of the region.
“We have top-down predation limited to southern grazing lands due to wild dog management,” he said.
According to the NSW Farmers Association, kangaroos can account for 50 per cent of a farm’s losses during boom periods. (Lea Scaddan)
Ms Garland said this had caused kangaroo populations to go through unsustainable periods of rise and fall depending on drought conditions.
“What we have are these huge population intrusions,” he said.
“But when we enter a period of drought, we also have millions of kangaroos starving to death.
“That’s why people really want more strategic management so we don’t have these massive spikes, but we could also pull the needle out of these massive deaths during droughts.”
Mr Turner said this was an emotional impact for farmers.
“Our interests are to provide the best possible welfare conditions for animals, including kangaroos.
“It’s not a good feeling to do your water checks, especially in times of drought, with this large number of animals dying, starving to death at your water points.”
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Posted 18 hours ago 18 hours, Friday, May 27, 2022 at 10:58 PM, updated 12 hours ago, 12 hours ago, Saturday, May 28, 2022 at 5:18 AM