Stations cop population pain

He said some of its claims, including that kangaroo populations were at risk, seemed to be based on a discredited analysis of the kangaroo population survey data.

“The NSW population peaked at a record high of 17.4 million in 2016... there were approximately three kangaroos for every sheep in far western NSW,” he said.

Mr Gall said drought conditions in western NSW had been exacerbated by carrying such large numbers of kangaroos.

“It brings on drought conditions earlier, the conditions are more severe, and it can take longer to recover,” he said.

He said with such large numbers, kangaroos suffered once the feed was gone, with die-offs not uncommon.

With documentary screenings in the United States and Brussels, Belgium, Mr Gall is concerned that a hit to kangaroo meat markets may reduce the commercial harvest further.

“Europe takes a significant portion of Australia’s export kangaroo meat,” he said.

“Many pastoralists would be satisfied by the level of population control delivered if the full utilisation of the commercial harvest quota was met.

“At the moment they’re only harvesting 10 per cent to 15pc of the quota, or 2pc of the entire population, which is ineffective as population control.”