Kangaroo Meat

Kangaroos have been hunted and killed by the Indigenous Australians for hundreds of years. For years Aboriginal Australians have relied on kangaroo as a source of protein in their diet. Approximately 3% of Australia's 50 million kangaroos are commercially harvested each year and around 70% of that are exported to 55 countries worldwide.


For non-indigenous Australians however, kangaroo was legalised for human consumption in 1980 in South Australia, and only the rest of Australia in 1993. It has become a popular choice of food for many locals, tourists and foreigners. The meat is well known for its high amounts of protein and zinc while containing little to no fats and saturated fats. It is said to be 'naturally nutrient rich' according to Australian nutritionist and dietitian, Rosemary Stanton.

"Extremely low in fat, kangaroo meat has virtually no saturated fat. Its levels of protein and zinc are similar to those of other meats, but it has more iron, twice as much vitamin B12 and higher levels of most other B vitamins."

http://scoopnutrition.com/2013/10/should-we-be-skipping-for-nutrition-joy-over-kangaroo-meat-by-guest-expert-jade-ashby/ (Rosemary Stanton wrote in her book Best Health Foods, Australian Food Guide).



http://scoopnutrition.com/2013/10/should-we-be-skipping-for-nutrition-joy-over-kangaroo-meat-by-guest-expert-jade-ashby/

On the other hand, some scientists believe kangaroo meat may not be as healthy as people may think. According to certain studies, it has been discovered that a compound called L-carnitine can be found in the meat and may be related to the cause of heart attacks and strokes. According to John Funder a Professor of Medicine at Monash University:

"Kangaroos have more L-carnitine per gram than any other red meat."

http://scoopnutrition.com/2013/10/should-we-be-skipping-for-nutrition-joy-over-kangaroo-meat-by-guest-expert-jade-ashby/ (John Funder - Professor of Medicine at Monash University wrote in the article above)

However, the idea that kangaroo meat is unhealthy is still controversial as some studies show no ill effects from the consumption of this meat.

http://www.butcherman.com.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/kangaroo-meat.jpg

Kangaroo Adaptations

Kangaroos are extraordinary animals that are able to successfully adapt to its environment in many different ways. Geographical and climate change in Australia have supposedly influenced kangaroos into what they have become today. Interestingly, it is believed that years ago, a kangaroo was similar in size and shape to a possum. The different species of kangaroo all have slightly different adaptations for their specific needs and varying habitats. Kangaroo adaptations can be divided into two separate categories, behavioural and structural adaptations.

• Behavioural Adaptations

E.g. 1 - If a kangaroo senses danger, they may use their hind legs to stamp on the ground, the vibrations sending a warning to the rest of their mob (group). This particular adaptation has probably been developed to ensure the safety of kangaroos from predators or hunters.

E.g. 2 - Kangaroos have also adapted to go for a significant amount of time without needing water. This animal is very efficient in utilising the water found in grasses, shrubs and other vegetation that makes up the majority of its diet.

E.g. 3 - During the summertime, when temperatures rise, red kangaroos lick their paws and coat them with saliva. Therefore, when air blows across their arms and paws, the saliva evaporates and carries away the body heat.

http://cdn.c.photoshelter.com/img-get2/I0000n0NmsxVfhWc/fit=1000x750/Tarris-Aus-02-12-2751.jpg

• Structural Adaptations

E.g. 1 - The powerful tendons in a kangaroos hind legs give kangaroos the ability to hop great distances at a high speed. The ability to travel quickly is energy efficient and allows kangaroos to escape predators like humans, foxes and dingoes (a wild dog).

E.g. 2 - An Eastern Grey Kangaroo's tail is extremely powerful and around 4 feet in length. This helps with their balance while hopping and also as a stand when male kangaroos 'box' to defend themselves or to decide who gets to mate with a female.

https://designeranimals.wikispaces.com/file/view/easterngreykangaroodiagram.jpg/153918909/632x488/easterngreykangaroodiagram.jpg

Above is a video of two male kangaroos boxing with each other. Notice how they use their tail for balance and kick with their hind legs as they are the most powerful part of their body. Fast forward to 2:40 for the start of the fight.

However, although kangaroos have been able to adapt to their environments, the desert and Australian outback continues to change and continues to be taken over by humans.

A Kangaroo?

A kangaroo is a native Australian animal that is best known for its style of movement, hopping with their hind legs. They are also known for keeping their offspring, 'joeys' in a pouch found on female kangaroos. This unique animal survives on shrubs/grasses and other plants found in various habitats including swamps, grasslands and woodland areas. The majority of kangaroos are found on the island of Australia and some were also deliberately introduced in New Zealand. Some sub species can also be found north of Australia in the tropical rainforests of Papua New Guinea.

A kangaroo is found on postage stamps, coins and is the official emblem for the Australian airline Qantas. It is also found on the the Australian coat of arms, making it the unofficial animal/symbol of Australia. The 'kangaroos' are also the name of the North Melbourne AFL club and the Australian Rugby League side. Furthermore, the 'wallabies' (a sub species of the kangaroo) is the name for the Australian Rugby Union side and the 'wallaroos' (another sub species) is the name of the Australian Women's rugby side.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Australian_coat_of_arms_1912_edit.png

The four major species of kangaroos include:

1. Red Kangaroo

 

http://media-channel.nationalgeographic.com/media/uploads/photos/content/photo/2015/01/27/whole-lotta-hop.jpg

• Largest of all types of kangaroos
• Commonly found in Western and Central Australia in open deserts and grasslands, where there may be no more than 800 mm of annual rainfall.
• A red kangaroo can reach speeds of above 35 mph (56 kph).
• Male red kangaroos can weigh up to as much as 90 kg!
• Average lifespan living in the wild can be up to 23 years

2. Eastern Grey Kangaroo

https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Animals/i-MWxDr7G/0/X2/k4-X2.jpg

• Has a grey/brown coloured fur unlike the red kangaroo
• Can be found across mainland Australia including the states of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania.
• Is mainly active during the night time
• Typically survive in areas of high rainfall and at different altitude levels across the country
• Average lifespan in the wild is between 8-10 years.

3. Western Grey Kangaroo

http://www.flamingoland.co.uk/ci/crop?s=images/animals/westerngkangaroo/westgreykang.jpg&w=590&h=300

• Unlike Eastern grey kangaroo, more commonly found in Western Australia and South Australia
• Most 'vocal' kangaroos and mother's can communicate with their offspring, joeys, by making a clicking noise.
• Fur is a grey/brown to red/brown colour.
• The male western grey kangaroo is much larger than the female and can reach up to 220 cm from head to tail.
• Live in groups of up to 40 individuals
• Species generally survive in an open woodland/grassland and forests

4. Antilopine Kangaroos 

https://i0.wp.com/atozanimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/antilopine-kangaroo.jpg

• Species of kangaroo found in northern Australia in Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
• Found in woodlands and open grasslands and generally smaller in size in comparison to the other species of kangaroo
• Generally found in groups of around 30 individual kangaroos
• Diet consists of mostly grasses and other shrubs.

Welcome

Hi! My name is Niall and this blog is all about Kangaroos!