Harvest macropod damage mitigation permit quota information

Background

In Queensland, red kangaroo (Osphranter rufus), common wallaroo (Osphranter robustus) and eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) are harvested for commercial and non-commercial purposes. These species, in large numbers and high densities, can cause significant impacts on commercial crops and pastures, and may be harvested for non-commercial purposes under a damage mitigation permit.

Damage mitigation permits are made under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020 and allow the permit holder to carry out lethal take of native wildlife. These permits can be issued to prevent damage or loss caused, or likely to be caused, by the animal (for example economic loss, or a loss of ecological sustainability), or prevent or minimise a threat, or potential threat, to human health or wellbeing caused, or likely to be caused, by the animal.

The commercial harvest of red kangaroo, common wallaroo, and eastern grey kangaroo is regulated under the Nature Conservation (Macropod) Conservation Plan 2017 (the Macropod Conservation Plan) and the Wildlife Trade Management Plan approved by the Commonwealth under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

The Macropod Conservation Plan sets out the number of animals that can be lethally taken under a damage mitigation permit. The harvest quota set for each species is a proportion of the estimated population size in each harvest zone, based on aerial macropod surveys undertaken by the Department annually.

The Macropod Conservation Plan restricts the quota for damage mitigation permits to 2% of the estimated population for each species of harvest macropod during the harvest period which commences on 1 January and expires on 31 December each year. Restricting the granting of damage mitigation permits in this way provides a clear limit that ensures the lethal take of harvest macropods is sustainable.

Additionally, there are five (5) harvest zones in Queensland where macropods can be harvested commercially. These are: Zone 1, Zone, 2, Zone 3, Zone 4 and Zone 5. There is also a non harvest zone where harvest quotas do not apply.  The annual harvest can be reviewed at any time to consider changing circumstances, such as the effects of drought or disease. If the harvest approaches the annual quota, the harvest period may be closed earlier.

Find further information relating to harvesting of macropods, harvest quotas and zones, or harvest updates.

    Permits issued 2023 as at 10/10/2023

    The tables below provide the damage mitigation permit (non-commercial) quota used for the 2023 harvesting period based on dated entered up until 10 October 2023.

    Please note – harvest zones came into effect 1 January 2023.

    Zone 1 Red Kangaroo Common Wallaroo
    2023 Damage mitigation permit (non-commercial) harvest quota 21,610 9,615
    Total macropods issued 0 0
    % of quota issued 0.0% 0.0%

    Note: No quota for non-commercial harvest allocated for eastern grey kangaroos in Zone 1 for the 2023 harvest period.

    Zone 2, 2023 harvesting period — data entered until 10 October 2023
    Zone 2 Eastern Grey Kangaroo Red Kangaroo Common Wallaroo
    2023 Damage mitigation permit (non-commercial) harvest quota 9,221 68,783 13,453
    Total macropods issued 1,650 4,380 3,330
    % of quota issued 17.9% 6.4% 24.8%
    Zone 3, 2023 harvesting period — data entered until 10 October 2023
    Zone 3 Eastern Grey Kangaroo Red Kangaroo Common Wallaroo
    2023 Damage mitigation permit (non-commercial) harvest quota 9,995 18,136 2,376
    Total macropods issued 5702,820810
    % of quota issued 5.7% 15.5% 34.1%
    Zone 4, 2023 harvesting period — data entered until 17 April 2023
    Zone 4 Eastern Grey Kangaroo Red Kangaroo Common Wallaroo
    2023 Damage mitigation permit (non-commercial) harvest quota 56,394 6,759 864
    Total macropods issued 12,790 550 450
    % of quota issued 22.7% 8.1% 52.1%
    Zone 5, 2023 harvesting period — data entered until 17 April 2023
    Zone 5 Eastern Grey Kangaroo Red Kangaroo Common Wallaroo
    2023 Damage mitigation permit (non-commercial) harvest quota 89,731 5,346 13,061
    Total macropods issued 4,948 0 648
    % of quota issued 5.5% 0.0% 5.0%

    Permits issued 2022 as at 31/12/2022

    The tables below provide the damage mitigation permit (non-commercial) quota used for the 2022 harvesting period based on dated entered up until 31 December 2022.

    Please note – harvest zones came into effect 1 January 2022.

    Central Zone 2022 harvesting period — data entered up until 31 December 2022
    Central Zone Eastern Grey Kangaroo Red Kangaroo Common Wallaroo
    2022 Damage mitigation permit (non-commercial) harvest quota 73,945 75,535 15,251
    Total macropods issued 19,050 11,650 6,030
    % of quota issued 25.8% 15.4% 39.5%

    Note: The Central Zone eastern grey kangaroo figures shown above include the Central Zone (North), Central Zone (South) and Central Zone (East) figures.

    Eastern Zone 2022 harvesting period — data entered until 31 December 2022
    Eastern Zone Eastern Grey Kangaroo Red Kangaroo Common Wallaroo
    2022 Damage mitigation permit (non-commercial) harvest quota 58,566 4,561 14,294
    Total macropods issued 3,579 0 1,362
    % of quota issued 6.1% 0% 9.5%
    Western Zone 2022 harvesting period — data entered up until 31 December 2022

    Western Zone

    Red Kangaroo

    Common Wallaroo

    2022 Damage mitigation permit (non-commercial) harvest quota 11,807 5,229
    Total macropods issued 0 0
    % of quota issued 0% 0%

    Permits issued 2021 as at 31/12/2021

    Scientific name Common name Grand total
    Macropus giganteus eastern grey kangaroo 38,019
    Osphranter robustus common wallaroo 12,450
    Osphranter rufus red kangaroo 17,150
    Damage Mitigation Permit Quota 2021 (non-commercial take)
    Scientific name Common name Grand total
    Macropus giganteus eastern grey kangaroo 200,868
    Osphranter robustus common wallaroo 46,695
    Osphranter rufus red kangaroo 82,714
    Quota used
    Scientific name Common name Grand total
    Macropus giganteus eastern grey kangaroo 18.9%
    Osphranter robustus common wallaroo 26.7%
    Osphranter rufus red kangaroo 20.7%

    Permits issued 2020 as at 31/12/2020

    Scientific name Common name Grand total
    Macropus giganteus eastern grey kangaroo 62,114
    Osphranter robustus common wallaroo 15,065
    Osphranter rufus red kangaroo 22,500
    Damage Mitigation Permit Quota 2020 (non-commercial take)
    Scientific name Common name Grand total
    Macropus giganteus eastern grey kangaroo 291,064
    Osphranter robustus common wallaroo 54,934
    Osphranter rufus red kangaroo 99,742
    Quota used
    Scientific name Common name Grand total
    Macropus giganteus eastern grey kangaroo 21.3%
    Osphranter robustus common wallaroo 27.4%
    Osphranter rufus red kangaroo 22.6%

    Permits issued 2019 as at 31/12/2019

    Scientific name Common name Grand total
    Macropus giganteus eastern grey kangaroo 179,849
    Osphranter robustus common wallaroo 21,473
    Osphranter rufus red kangaroo 48,142
    Damage Mitigation Permit Quota 2019 (non-commercial take)
    Scientific name Common name Grand total
    Macropus giganteus eastern grey kangaroo 249,573
    Osphranter robustus common wallaroo 66,036
    Osphranter rufus red kangaroo 105,829
    Quota used
    Scientific name Common name Grand total
    Macropus giganteus eastern grey kangaroo 72%
    Osphranter robustus common wallaroo 33%
    Osphranter rufus red kangaroo 46%

    Permits issued 2018 as at 31/12/2018

    Scientific name Common name Grand total
    Macropus giganteus eastern grey kangaroo 221,312
    Osphranter robustus common wallaroo 30,229
    Osphranter rufus red kangaroo 72,999
    Damage Mitigation Permit Quota 2018 (non-commercial take)
    Scientific name Common name Grand total
    Macropus giganteus eastern grey kangaroo 259,843
    Osphranter robustus common wallaroo 68,342
    Osphranter rufus red kangaroo 130,534
    Quota used
    Scientific name Common name Grand total
    Macropus giganteus eastern grey kangaroo 85%
    Osphranter robustus common wallaroo 44%
    Osphranter rufus red kangaroo 56%

    Permits issued 2017 as at 31/12/2017

    Scientific name Common name Grand total
    Macropus giganteus eastern grey kangaroo 170,358
    Osphranter robustus common wallaroo 28,478
    Osphranter rufus red kangaroo 65,127
    Damage Mitigation Permit Quota 2017 (non-commercial take)
    Scientific name Common name Grand total
    Macropus giganteus eastern grey kangaroo 279,859
    Osphranter robustus common wallaroo 56,103
    Osphranter rufus red kangaroo 115,373
    Quota used
    Scientific name Common name Grand total
    Macropus giganteus eastern grey kangaroo 61%
    Osphranter robustus common wallaroo 51%
    Osphranter rufus red kangaroo 56%

    Permits issued 2016 as at 31/12/2016

    Scientific name Common name Grand total
    Macropus giganteus eastern grey kangaroo 160,187
    Osphranter robustus common wallaroo 20,420
    Osphranter rufus red kangaroo 58,055
    Damage Mitigation Permit Quota 2016 (non-commercial take)
    Scientific name Common name Grand total
    Macropus giganteus eastern grey kangaroo 308,134
    Osphranter robustus common wallaroo 73,882
    Osphranter rufus red kangaroo 141,224
    Quota used
    Scientific name Common name Grand total

    Macropus giganteus

    eastern grey kangaroo 52%
    Osphranter robustus common wallaroo 28%
    Osphranter rufus red kangaroo 41%

    Permits issued 2015 as at 31/12/2015

    Scientific nameCommon nameGrand total
    Macropus giganteus eastern grey kangaroo 248,719
    Osphranter robustus common wallaroo 67,246
    Osphranter rufus red kangaroo 103,393
    Damage Mitigation Permit Quota 2015 (non-commercial take)
    Scientific nameCommon nameGrand total
    Macropus giganteus eastern grey kangaroo 308,545
    Osphranter robustus common wallaroo 91,695
    Osphranter rufus red kangaroo 142,957
    Quota used
    Scientific nameCommon nameGrand total
    Macropus giganteus eastern grey kangaroo 81%
    Osphranter robustus common wallaroo 73%
    Osphranter rufus red kangaroo 72%

    Permits issued 2014 as at 31/12/2014

    Scientific name Common name Grand total
    Macropus giganteus eastern grey kangaroo 169,631
    Osphranter robustus common wallaroo 51,112
    Osphranter rufus red kangaroo 46,492
    Damage Mitigation Permit Quota 2014 (non-commercial take)
    Scientific name Common name Grand total
    Macropus giganteus eastern grey kangaroo 182,522
    Osphranter robustus common wallaroo 64,498
    Osphranter rufus red kangaroo 81,020
    Quota used
    Scientific name Common name Grand total
    Macropus giganteus eastern grey kangaroo 93%
    Osphranter robustus common wallaroo 79%
    Osphranter rufus red kangaroo 57%