Date Published: April 2011
Assessment Summary
The Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus) is an Australian native which is locally common throughout most of the southern mainland of Australia, including parts of Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales to South West Queensland.
The species is not considered to be invasive, although populations have been introduced to small islands in Western Australia. There are no reports of this species being introduced outside Australia.
The Western Grey Kangaroo is a declared pest of agriculture in Western Australia under the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act 1976. The species is recognised for causing damage to agricultural property, including damage to pastures and fences in farming areas and multiple crop types. Should a population establish in Tasmania, significant impact could be expected to agriculture infrastructure and pasture, and native species and grassland communities are likely to be negatively impacted.
Commercial harvesting of Western Grey Kangaroos occurs under Commonwealth-approved management plans in New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia. In 2009, more than 171,000 Western Grey Kangaroos were killed for meat and skins under commercial harvest quotas in these States.
The species is listed as 'least concern' under the IUCN Red List and is protected under legislation in various States in Australia. In Tasmania, Western Grey Kangaroos are 'controlled animals' under the Tasmanian Nature Conservation Act 2002.
There is an extreme likelihood of this species establishing in Tasmania.
This risk assessment concludes that Western Grey Kangaroos are an extreme threat to Tasmania and recommends that imports be prohibited.
Assessment Documentation
Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus) (478Kb)