Whilst living in NW Western Australia, i regulary had the opportunity to attend hunting trips with a couple of indigenous lads. As well as both being great shots, they were also extremely observant, not to target mother’s with joeys and also the large males. When asked, their response to the large male issue relates to worm infestation. Younger animals are less likely to be infested, reducing the instance of spoiled carcasses. Strangely enough, mothers carrrying joeys are slower to move. …. so it pays to be a proper sportsman.

I personally found that a younger kangaroo, once skinned and gutted, would just fit nicely into my refrigerator. This meant that butchering was a much easier task, carried out on my kitchen counter at home. Much more hygienic and permitted me to extract as much high quality cuts as possible. (was just like filleting a fish).

One such kangaroo, provided my family of four with steak (the best i have ever eaten), casserole cuts, mince (‘Roo- banaise’, Roo Con Carne, Roo Lasagne, Roo- soles), Kangaroo Tail Soup (a special occaison in our house), and fantastic stews (a fantastic stock made from the hip bones). Our two small dogs never went without either. The ribs were certainly their favourite, while 1/2 leg bone kept a smile on their face.

In regard to human health issues, eating kangaroo is not like eating domesticated meat. Kangaroos are killed in the dusty, hot outback, hung on an open-air truck all night with flies breeding in the open body cavity, and then left in a filthy chiller for up to 2 weeks before being trucked for processing. Does that sound “healthy” to you?

To make things even more icky, the baby joey’s are ripped from their dead mother’s pouch and (as prescribed by Australian code of practice) bashed in the head until dead. This practice is as cruel as killing baby harp seals, and just as disgusting. Any “at foot” baby joey is left alone to slowly starve to death, or to be eaten.

What does “sustainable” mean when a practice is not ethical? Care of the earth includes care of the animals and the over-exploitation of our wildlife is counter to this ethic.