April 24, 2026 - SACRAMENTO, Calif.— On Tuesday the California Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee rejected SB 1212 (Jones-R). This bill would have removed kangaroos from California’s longstanding wildlife trade protections, opening the state to the exploitative commercial trade in kangaroo products. The commercial kangaroo killing industry and the Australian government were seeking a new pathway to sell parts and products made from dead kangaroos. Kangaroos were first protected from commercial trade in the state in 1971, and in 2015, the State Legislature refused a bill similar to SB 1212.
“This vote is a victory for kangaroos. Our state chose to protect this important, iconic species over participating in cruelty,” said Jenny Berg, California state director for Humane World for Animals, formerly called the Humane Society of the United States. “Californians don’t want to buy leather made from kangaroo skin or pet food made from kangaroo meat. These products are tied to the world’s largest land-based commercial slaughter of wildlife, where more than 1 million animals are killed each year and joeys are bashed in the head, decapitated or left to die from dehydration or starvation. This decision reaffirms California’s humane leadership by keeping these products out of our state.”
Dr. Renae Charalambous, wildlife policy program manager for Humane World for Animals Australia, added: “This is a strong and welcome outcome. Kangaroos are wild, sentient animals—not a commodity—and this decision recognizes the serious welfare concerns associated with the commercial industry. Each year, well over a million adult kangaroos are killed, alongside hundreds of thousands of dependent joeys, with no independent monitoring at the point of kill and limited enforcement. By rejecting this bill, California has chosen not to support a market built on these outcomes. It reflects growing global concern about the commercial killing of wildlife and reinforces the importance of strong protections.”
This decision strengthens California’s longstanding position on wildlife trade and signals continued international scrutiny of Australia’s commercial kangaroo industry.
Source: Humane World for Animals
