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The Times of India
The Times of India
World
TOI World Desk

Australia once paid bounties to kill kangaroos; up to 27 million marsupials died

Australia Queensland Nature the Queensland Government

Australia once used government-funded bounties to encourage people to kill native marsupials, including kangaroos, wallabies and bandicoots. A 2026 study published in Nature found that the programme led to the destruction of up to 27 million animals between the late 19th century and 1930. The scheme was introduced when the Queensland Government sought to reduce competition between native marsupials and livestock for food. Researchers examining historical bounty programmes around the world found that the Queensland campaign was one of the largest examples they identified.

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