Two PhD opportunities are available to examine kangaroo populations, management practices, and their impact on biodiversity and rangeland ecosystems. The projects aim to improve understanding and inform sustainable solutions for kangaroo management.

Context:

Kangaroos play a crucial role in Australia’s ecosystems, culture, and economy. However, current management practices often lead to negative outcomes in several areas:

• Animal Welfare: Millions of kangaroos die during droughts or from poorly managed culling.
• Environmental Impact: Overabundant kangaroo populations threaten biodiversity by damaging vegetation and competing for resources.
• Natural Resource Management: High populations compromise land regeneration and stewardship programs.
• Human Health and Welfare: Financial and mental health impacts arise from managing overpopulated kangaroos.
• Food Waste: Non-commercial culling leaves millions of carcasses in the field, leading to wasted resources and biosecurity risks.

Research projects:

Students will be able to craft the projects according to their specific interests, backgrounds, and field sites.

Supervisors:

• Sarah Milne, ANU Crawford School
• Sarah Clement, ANU Fenner School.
• George Wilson, ANU Fenner School

Developing a National Kangaroo Strategy

Focus Areas: The research will contribute to the creation of a National Kangaroo Strategy through:

• Documenting the history of kangaroo management and population changes.
• Analysing current management practices across States and Territories.
• Highlighting the need for consistency and improvements in kangaroo management.
• Exploring the role of the Commonwealth and comparing kangaroo management with existing national feral animal strategies.
• Incorporating Indigenous perspectives, rights, and opportunities in kangaroo management.
• Identifying clear roles and responsibilities among stakeholders.

The findings will contribute to an overarching national management standard potentially aligned with proposed EPBC Act reforms.

Integrating Kangaroos into Pastoral Production Systems and Environmental Markets

Focus Areas: Investigate sustainable and eco-friendly options for kangaroo management, including:

• Eco-Friendly Income Diversification: Exploring kangaroo-based products as alternatives to traditional livestock, focusing on lower methane emissions and biodiversity benefits.
• Environmental Credits: Assessing the potential for kangaroo management to contribute to emissions reduction, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity credits.
• Maximizing Sustainable Harvest Returns: Identifying ways to increase commercial use of kangaroos, currently underutilized, while maintaining environmental sustainability.
• Ethical Harvesting Standards: Developing innovationsand guidelines for humane kangaroo harvesting.

Research will explore the economic and ecological impacts of these practices, along with innovative management processes, quotas, and integration with carbon/biodiversity credits.

Candidate Requirements:

Candidates must be willing to undertake fieldwork and collaborate with government agencies, industry, and conservation organizations. Domestic students with First Class Honours or master’s degrees in environmental science, geography, anthropology, economics, political science or public policy may apply.  Some knowledge of the Australian rural and policy contexts is desirable.  Passion for wildlife, rangelands, livelihoods, and regional Australia is essential.

Candidates will be expected to commence their doctoral programs in early 2025.

Expressions of Interest

Expressions of interest outlining candidates background, experience, motivation and preference for project should be sent to George Wilson george.wilson@anu.edu.au no later than 10 October 2024.

Successful applicants will be supported to apply for an AGRTP scholarship ($36,652 pa 2024 rate) which will be supplemented with an additional stipend of $25,000 pa for each postgraduate student. Applications for AGTRP close on 31 October 2024.

Background references

1. Improving Kangaroo Management: A Joint Statement.  https://doi.org/10.1111/emr.12467
2. Options and rationale for regional property‐based kangaroo production - Wilson - 2021 - Ecological Management & Restoration - Wiley Online Library