Commercial exploitation of Kangaroos in South Australia: Actual take, 1 January to 1 July 2025
Life on land
DONATE
YOU CAN SUPPORT CREATIVE COWBOY FILMS BY DONATING
Your support will assist us to continue our research and content development, the greater our resources, the more we can do.
The more we have an accurate understanding of what is happening to nature, the more we can all do to protect what remains of our living planet.
This is also an opportunity for philanthropists to be part of an ongoing project that tells independent stories about the natural world, stories that will help us to better understand what is happening to species and places on our precious planet Earth.
Note: Creative Cowboy Films does NOT have tax deductible charity status.
Become a Member
Becoming a member of Creative cowboy films The Nature Knowledge Channel is a very real way you can help the precious natural world and support the work we do in creating knowledge about what is happening to it.
Membership
You can access thiscontent and other stories by becoming a member or donating
Sign up NowBecoming a member of Creative cowboy films
The Nature Knowledge Channel is a very real way you can help the precious natural world and support the work we do in creating knowledge about the natural world.
Annual membership of the Creative cowboy films - Nature Knowledge Channel gives you full access to content, stories and films, available on this website. Becoming a member of the Creative cowboy films - Nature Knowledge Channel is a very real way you can help the natural world and support our work in creating a greater understanding about what is happening to it.
A point of difference
Creative cowboy films is independent, is not funded by governments or industry, and is not influenced by their associated interest groups. For reasons of independent research and content development, Creative cowboy films does NOT have tax deductible charity status.
“The Government of South Australia has provided the data for actual take of Kangaroos being exploited for commercial gain in the state in the first half of 2025. We go back to the government with more questions”. Peter Hylands
This is some text inside of a div block.
This is some text inside of a div block.
This is some text inside of a div block.
This is some text inside of a div block.
This is some text inside of a div block.
This is some text inside of a div block.
This is some text inside of a div block.
This is some text inside of a div block.
This is some text inside of a div block.
This is some text inside of a div block.
This is some text inside of a div block.
This is some text inside of a div block.
This is some text inside of a div block.
This is some text inside of a div block.
This is some text inside of a div block.
This is some text inside of a div block.
This is some text inside of a div block.
This is some text inside of a div block.
This is some text inside of a div block.
This is some text inside of a div block.
This is some text inside of a div block.
The total Kangaroo population estimate for South Australia in 2024, which sets 2025 quotas, is 4,922,375 (includes the Eastern Grey Kangaroo) giving a quota for 2025 of 805,800, up from 577,000 in the previous year. If the quota was met in 2025, this would mean 230,000 joeys (not included in the data) would also die by decapitation, beaten to death or starvation if they escape.
While this cruel trade in wildlife should not occur at all, the following species should be removed from the commercial list with immediate effect because of significant damage to actual populations:
- Euro.
Then the recent 2020 additions:
- Kangaroo Island Sooty Kangaroo (Eastern Grey from Kangaroo Island);
- Tammar Wallaby; and
- Eastern Grey Kangaroo.
2024
In 2024 a total of 105,845 Kangaroos were shot for commercial gain (excluding joeys) in South Australia. That was just 17 per cent of quota which was set at 635,400. The quota, a number which included the five species of Macropod (no Tammar Wallabies were actually killed for commercial gain in the year) currently killed for commercial gain in the state.
2025 so far
The actuals for the period 1 January to 1 July 2025 as reported by the Government of South Australia are:
- Red Kangaroo – 37,880;
- Western Grey Kangaroo – 20,187;
- Eastern Grey Kangaroo – 6,816;
- Euro – 3,498; and
- Tammar Wallaby (Kangaroo Island) – 0.
TOTAL ACTUAL TAKE – 68,381 (8.5 per cent of full year quota).
While the actual take is very low when compared to quota, the take is still higher than the Nature Knowledge Channel’s forecast. Given this I have asked the Government of South Australia the following question.
The numbers are interesting, particularly so as the numbers are higher than our forecast for SA and the period.
Is this because:
Public lands are being accessed more actively by commercial shooters? Or
Are joeys included in the data – at least the older at-foot joeys? Or
Is the bounty having an impact, particularly in remoter regions that are not usually viable when it comes to commercial exploitation.
It will be interesting to know which of these is the main driver of the increase in take.
No items found.
Related
2024: Commercial exploitation of Kangaroos in South Australia, what actually happened?
As per our forecast, the actual take was just 17 per cent of the South Australian commercial Kangaroo quota.
2025: Commercial exploitation of Kangaroos in South Australia
Given the up and coming Kangaroo Inquiry in South Australia this analysis will be useful to submitters trying to understand what is occurring.
Red Kangaroo: History of commercial species in South Australia
The Nature Knowledge Channel holds the data for the commercial exploitation of Kangaroos in South Australia back to the early 1970s.
The Inquiry into Kangaroo and Wallaby populations in South Australia
The Natural Resources Committee is calling for submissions to its inquiry into Kangaroo and Wallaby populations in South Australia.
Review of Kangaroo data for commercially exploited species 1980-2025 (all government sources)
This analysis is a rebuild of annual Kangaroo population estimates, commercial quotas and actual take from 1980, including the population estimate data removed from the public gaze.
South Australia: Draft Commercial Kangaroo Management Plan 2025–2029 - Nature Knowledge Channel submission
Given South Australia’s Kangaroo Inquiry, the opportunity arises for a thorough review of the Draft Commercial Kangaroo Management Plan.