Kangaroo leather is popular, known for its durability, strength and versatility. With a wide variety of uses from footwear to sports and tactical gear to fashion and accessories, kangaroo leather is a popular choice in the exotic leathers market. And, like many exotic leathers, kangaroo leather raises concerns over wildlife conservation and animal welfare.

Sustainable practices, including regulated harvesting and transparent supply chains, are essential to mitigating the environmental impacts and ensuring the welfare of kangaroo populations. They are also a core principle of PanAm Leathers. We pride ourselves on ensuring our products and sourcing adhere to the strict guidelines set forth by the governments, non-government ethics organizations, the industry and our own moral code.

Understanding the protocols put into place by the industry as well as governments and NGO conservation and ethics groups is essential for responsible and ethical consumption and use of  kangaroo leather.

Sustainability of Kangaroo Leather Production

One of the first questions one must ask of any species considered for the exotic leather trade is the impact harvesting might have on populations and any potential impacts. This is, perhaps, one of the aspects that makes kangaroo leather so viable.

Kangaroos are adept breeders who have also benefited from pastoral development, artificial watering holes, rainy conditions and a lack of natural predators. In fact, much like deer overpopulation in several states in the U.S., the resulting overabundance of kangaroos leads to significant problems including overgrazing, which threatens food and shelter sources for themselves and other animals that share their ecosystem. This can cause mass starvation. So, even if there was no trade for meat or hides, the animals would still need to be culled.

Throughout Australia, kangaroos are sustainably sourced and humanely harvested by licensed hunters according to the National Code of Practice, which outlines the most humane way to harvest kangaroos based on the latest scientific research into kangaroo behavior and ecology.

To start, hunters must pass a test every five years to make sure they can meet the animal welfare requirements. Further, kangaroo populations are monitored by state officials who conduct surveys by aircraft in order to set annual quotas, typically around 10-20% of the population. As of 2023, there were at least 30 million kangaroos roaming in the six territories from which they can be commercially harvested to be used for kangaroo leather and meat, which are exported to approximately 70 countries.

In short, the existing kangaroo population, monitored carefully by authorities, is served by the humane harvest of animals which would otherwise result in devastating impacts on the health of their communities, the land upon which they feed, and the other animals which might be impacted by excessive feeding from large kangaroo populations.

Because of the benefits of a harvest, and significant government oversight into the process, Australia and the exotic leather industry can ensure the humane harvest of kangaroo leather while sustaining a healthy kangaroo population.

Ethics For The Kangaroo Leather Trade

Ensuring a healthy and robust kangaroo population is essential, especially to Australians for whom kangaroos are part of their national identity and the Aboriginal communities for whom they hold cultural and symbolic meaning. However, kangaroo leather is about more than asking “Can the kangaroo population sustain a harvest?” 

Ethics in the kangaroo leather trade is a multifaceted issue that requires careful consideration of environmental sustainability, animal welfare, and cultural respect. Kangaroo leather is prized for its durability, flexibility, and unique grain, making it a desirable material for various products, from fashion accessories to footwear. However, the ethical implications surrounding its production warrant close examination.

As noted above, one of the primary concerns in the kangaroo leather trade is the welfare of the kangaroos themselves. Regulations and guidelines exist to govern the kangaroo culling process, aiming to minimize suffering and ensure harvesting is conducted in a legal and ethical manner. Ethical considerations include the use of skilled marksmen to minimize suffering, strict quotas to prevent over-harvesting, and adherence to humane slaughter practices.

Environmental sustainability is another critical aspect of the kangaroo leather trade's ethics. Kangaroo populations can fluctuate due to factors such as habitat loss, climate change, and human interference. Sustainable harvesting practices must take into account the ecological impact of kangaroo populations on their habitats and ecosystems. As mentioned, this involves government monitoring of population dynamics, setting appropriate quotas based on scientific research, and implementing measures to mitigate any negative effects on biodiversity.

Cultural sensitivity is also essential when discussing the ethics of the kangaroo leather trade. Kangaroos hold significant cultural and symbolic value for Indigenous Australian communities, who have a deep connection to the land and its wildlife. Respect for Indigenous perspectives and engagement with Indigenous stakeholders are crucial for ethical decision-making in the kangaroo leather industry.

This includes acknowledging Indigenous rights to land and resources, consulting with Indigenous communities on management strategies, and supporting initiatives that promote Indigenous participation and benefit-sharing. In fact, the government of South Australia makes special note of this ethical consideration on its kangaroo guidelines page.

The Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment approves state kangaroo management plans and regulates the export activities of the kangaroo industry under the Wildlife Protection (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1982. 

Import And Export Information for Kangaroo Leather

The demand for kangaroo leather comes from countries across the world, given its versatility and durability. The primary authority overseeing the kangaroo leather trade is the Australian government's Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, particularly through its Wildlife Trade Regulation division. This department is responsible for managing the sustainable use of wildlife resources, including kangaroos, and ensuring that harvesting and trade activities are conducted in accordance with laws and regulations.

Additionally, the Australian government works with non governmental organizations who provide ethical insight and oversight into trade involving wildlife, including exotic leathers. More specifically, international bodies such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulate the trade of kangaroo products, including leather, on the global scale. CITES regulates the international trade of endangered species to ensure their survival in the wild.

Further, it is the role of the leather companies working with exotic leathers to ensure a sustainable supply chain while maintaining wild animal populations and habitats. This is a core PanAm Leathers value and one we hold ourselves and our partners to when it comes to sourcing all of our leather products, including kangaroo leather.

If you’re interested in exploring our kangaroo leathers, or our other exotic leathers, please reach out to our team. We’d love to get you connected with the right kangaroo leather for your next project!