UPDATE (3/10/25): The Kangaroo Protection Act has been reintroduced in Congress by Rep. Brian K Fitzpatrick [R-PA-1] and Rep. Jan Schakowsky [D-IL-9]. It is now H.R.1992.

Every year, around 2 million kangaroos are hunted and killed so their skin can be used in soccer cleats and high-end fashion products. Entire families are awoken in terror and gunned down in the dead of night by hunters using night-vision rifle scopes. According to Australia's kangaroo killing guidelines, when a mother kangaroo is slaughtered, hunters are instructed to check her pouch for a joey. If one is found, they are to bludgeon them to death.

Kangaroos are intelligent, highly social animals that live in matriarchal groups called 'mobs,' which can include over a hundred individuals with mothers and their babies forming the heart of these communities. Kangaroos are also emotionally sensitive animals and have been observed expressing grief at the loss of their mob members, much like human mourning. The mass slaughter of kangaroos in Australia each year is a violent, traumatizing, and gruesome assault on these unique wild animals.

Former kangaroo shooter David Nicholls has described the horror of these hunts:
 "The mouth of a kangaroo can be blown off and the kangaroo can escape to die of shock and starvation. Forearms can be blown off, as can ears, eyes, and noses. Stomachs can be hit, expelling the contents with the kangaroo still alive."

This is the reality behind the world's largest commercial slaughter of land-based wildlife, and major athletic brands and fashion houses have been profiting from it for years.

As awareness of the brutal reality of kangaroo hunting grows and public pressure increases, many brands have stopped using kangaroo leather, including Prada, Versace, Chanel, and H&M. Several sportswear companies, such as Nike, Puma, Diadora, and New Balance, have also taken a stand and announced they will no longer use kangaroo leather for their cleats. Unfortunately, others, including Adidas and Mizuno, still refuse to make that pledge and continue to fuel this industry of cruelty.

Right now, California is the only U.S. state that bans the sale of kangaroo leather. But we have a chance to change that. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick [R-PA-1] has introduced the Kangaroo Protection Act, a bill that would ban kangaroo leather products nationwide and push brands to switch to cruelty-free alternatives.

Take Action Now

Kangaroos should not be slaughtered for fashion or sportswear. Join Species Unite in calling for an end to this brutal trade.