Kangaroo leather: Senators introduce US bill that will ban the sale of products made of kangaroo skin
An estimated two million wild kangaroos are slaughtered every year to produce “k-leather”, which is used in certain models of soccer cleats.
A bill that aims to protect wild kangaroos by banning “kangaroo leather” products in the US has been introduced.
The legislation would outlaw the sale and manufacture of products made from kangaroo skin - also known as “k-leather”, as well as the sale of kangaroo skin itself.
The Kangaroo Protection Act was introduced on September 19 by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ).
“The mass killing of millions of kangaroos to make commercial products is needless and inhumane—and we must do better,” Senator Duckworth said in a statement. “I’m proud to introduce this bill with Senator Booker that would help prevent the deadly exploitation of kangaroos and promote the use of more humane alternatives to k-leather.”
If passed, the legislation would also give the Secretary of Commerce power to issue civil and criminal penalties of fines up to $10,000 for those flouting the law.
It is estimated that two million wild kangaroos are killed every year for the use of their skin in commercial products, making it the largest commercial slaughter of mammals worldwide.
The grisly kangaroo hunts result in entire families of kangaroos shot in the dead of night with night-vision rifle scopes. According to Australia's kangaroo killing guidelines, slaughtered female kangaroos should be checked for joeys in their pouches - who should be bludgeoned to death if found.
In a statement, the Senators point out that the commercial slaughter of kangaroos is ten times larger than the infamously brutal Canadian seal hunt, which prompted the United States to ban the import of seal pelts back in 1972.
Despite having similar import bans for other animals, the US is currently the second largest commercial market for k-leather products in the world.
The US demand for kangaroo leather is mainly driven by its use in certain models of soccer cleats.
However, increasing political and public pushback over the kangaroo leather industry and its slaughter of millions of wild kangaroos, has seen major and independent brands gradually move away from k-leather.
Nike, Puma, and New Balance are among brands which have recently stopped the production of soccer boots made with k-leather.
PUMA’s latest soccer shoes were redesigned without kangaroo leather. Credit: PUMA
As part of its k-leather ban, Puma redesigned its classic King soccer boots with a new, non-animal-based material made mostly from nylon microfiber. The material is described as outperforming k-leather in testing for touch, comfort, and durability.
Currently, California is the only US state to outlaw the sale of kangaroo skin, but the newly introduced Kangaroo Protection Act would make the ban nationwide.
Species Unite applauds the Senators for introducing legislation to help protect kangaroos and outlaw the sale of kangaroo leather products. Speak out for kangaroos by adding your name to our petition to ban kangaroo leather in the US here.
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