2006-12-11 12:40:46 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Kangaroos can definitely be a pest in Australia. They can travel about 140 km a night (Red Kangaroos) and have a unique breeding cycle. When the season is good, the female can have one young at her heel, a young suckling in the pouch and an embryo in suspended animation. That is called delayed implantation.
Once she gets rid of the baby at her heel, the embryo will start to develop. If the season goes bad, the body will not let the embryo develop and she will try to raise the baby in the pouch. Once the season comes good again, the embryo is left to develop.
So, the baby is born and crawls into the pouch and mating takes place. The cycle starts all over again.
You never hear about the radical greenies bemoaning the fact that the Kangaroo is an endangered species until, after several good years, there is a drought and the Kangaroos will congregate in an area in thousands. Then come the culls and the voices from the other side saying the culls have to stop.
Man has also aided the problem by providing water where water has never been prmanent before.
Mostly, Kangaroos are a minor threat when you consider rabbits, foxes, cats and cane toads in Australia. At least you can eat Kangaroo and it is quite tasty. Kangaroo tail soup is nice and I cooked up a dish of Mongolian "Skippy" (the television Kangaroo's name) which was fantastic.
I have a lot of respect for the Kangaroo and would hate to see it endangered, but as a pest, overbreeding and drought are it's worst enemy when it becomes a pest.
2006-12-11 20:20:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most definitely ! Ask any grazier in the far west of NSW what he runs and he will answer " two sheep and 50 kangaroos to the acre "
With improved pastures and water storage, there are more Kangaroos now than ever before. Add to that the Greenies cry blue murder if they are culled. Some years ago an American woman came here raising a storm and effectively stopped all export of Kangaroo products. Kangaroo leather is top grade stuff, as is the meat. Yet this lady did not get out any further than Sydney !
Yes, they are a pest. Males will attack people with devestating results. Yet they roam the golf courses and the lawns of private residences....and we can't do a damn thing about it. Back with the grazier, he loses valuable pasture, crops of wheat etc. and water.
2006-12-11 13:04:46 · answer #2 · answered by John 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
But they aren't as bad as most pests. In most ways kangaroos are similar to deer. They become pests when they invade farmers feilds, golf cources and parks in search of food.
2006-12-11 12:46:04 · answer #3 · answered by Beef 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes- I just watched a show about hunting kangaroos in Australia.
2006-12-11 15:19:36 · answer #4 · answered by D 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
While I would never eat a Kangaroo, I have eaten a number of Cameltoes in my life....
2016-03-29 03:50:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yep. They're just like deer. The real problem is when there are too many kangroos and people in one area.
2006-12-11 13:24:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes-- in fact we have an infestation in our basement right now. its like you don't hear anything at all but right before you flick the lights on you hear a bunch of hopping around. then you dont see anything. once you turn the lights off its the same thing, i think they are drunk or something.
what do you think?
also in response to beef's answer:
i beleive that they are actually searching for their lost treasure, not food. who looks for food on a golf course for real?
2006-12-11 12:51:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋