Wildlife advocates have condemned a Victorian government-sanctioned increase to the legal slaughter of kangaroos across the state this year following record floods.
Victoria's renamed Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action released a new report on the state's commercial Kangaroo Harvesting Program and Authority to Control Wildlife permit scheme over the holiday period.
The latest report recommends raising the number of grey kangaroos culled in 2023 to harvest their meat to 166,730, up 30 per cent from 127,850 last year.
Permits handed out to Victorian landholders to shoot roos on their property are also poised to rise by 19 per cent to 69,600.
In total, the overall quota of kangaroos earmarked to be legally culled has increased by 27 per cent - from 185,850 in 2022 to 236,350 in 2023.
Aerial surveys within the state's seven kangaroo harvest zones during September and October last year estimated the population at 2,363,850.
The recommended cull figure is set at 10 per cent of the total estimate.
"The abundance of grey kangaroos within the non-forested parts of Victoria has increased by approximately 24 per cent compared with that reported from the 2020 aerial survey," the report said.
"This increase has been most likely due to the mild and moderately wet conditions experienced in Victoria over the last two years.
"The increase in the population of grey kangaroos has resulted in an increase in the total allowable take of kangaroos."
Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell said kangaroos have suffered from natural disasters such as flooding over the past 12 months, and it was remiss of the government to accept a population report that didn't include that factor.
"We don't know how many kangaroos have been lost in unprecedented flooding across Victoria, and yet the government has approved a 27 per cent increase," she said.
The newly elected upper house crossbencher called on the Andrews government to implement and monitor exclusion zones around wildlife shelters.
"It is wildlife rescuers, who are mostly volunteers, who are left to clean up the mess from this barbaric Victorian government-approved shooting," Ms Purcell said.
Helen Round, a carer and rescuer at the East Trentham Wildlife Shelter, said it takes 15 months and $2000 to raise and rehabilitate joeys and kangaroos only for shooters to pick them off for $15 each.
"More and more we're being called out for mis-shot kangaroos. They've been shot two or three weeks ago," she told AAP.
"The look of terror in an animal's eyes ... stays with you forever. We've been called in to mop up after massacres when we should be raising and rehabilitating."
Wildlife Victoria chief executive Lisa Palma said the group, which runs an emergency rescue service, was "appalled" by the decision, particularly after the devastating floods impacting the species.
"Wildlife Victoria opposes kangaroo harvesting on the grounds that it is unsustainable, unnecessary, unethical, and that it lacks relevant in-field supervision," she said.
"The program monetises the killing of kangaroos across Victoria and prioritises commercial interests above our unique and precious wildlife."
A Victorian government spokesman said the kangaroo population figure was a "conservative estimate" as heavily forested areas were not included.
"While scientists from the Arthur Rylah Institute acknowledged the localised impacts of flooding on wildlife, there is no evidence of significant impacts on the statewide kangaroo population," he said.
Kangaroo control levels will be monitored throughout 2023 and changes made to the harvesting program quota if necessary, the spokesman said.
