Study Finds Negative Impact of Kangaroos

Nick Catsaras of Sydney, Australia, is an entrepreneur and medical doctor with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree. An expert in data mining and statistical analysis, Nick Catsaras serves as the managing director at Pegasus Research and is a private investor. Mr. Catsaras has a personal interest in environmental conservation efforts.

A recent environmental study conducted by the University of New South Wales found that kangaroo grazing is having a negative impact on land conservation in Australia. Researchers examined four conservation reserves in semi-arid regions of Australia and compared areas within each of the reserves, including those that could be freely accessed by local wildlife, primarily kangaroos, with other areas that were enclosed to prevent animals from entering them.

The results of the study demonstrated that areas allowing unrestricted access to animals had less vegetation and drier, more compacted soil. The study noted that a high number of kangaroos grazed in these areas and was the species most significantly contributing to damaging the conservation lands. Researchers also noted that the overgrazing by kangaroos negatively influenced the ability of other animals including the Plains Wanderer, an endangered species, to find nutritional resources and protective cover. This study raises concerns over the need to manage the increasing kangaroo population to protect the semi-arid areas of Australia.