U.S. Senate proposes prohibition on kangaroo leather trade
Senator Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and Senator Cory Booker, D-N.J., have introduced a new bill to the U.S. Senate, aiming to put an end to the commerce of kangaroo products within the United States. The Kangaroo Protection Act of 2024 seeks to ban the sale and manufacturing of products made from kangaroo skin, including certain models of soccer cleats.
The bill has garnered support from various organizations, including the Global Coalition of Farm Sanctuaries, SPCA International, the Center for a Humane Economy, and the Victorian Kangaroo Alliance. A bipartisan group of six congresspeople, led by U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., introduced a similar bill in 2023.
If passed, the legislation would empower the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to issue fines up to $10,000 and other regulations. The bill aims to help prevent the exploitation of kangaroos and promote the use of more humane alternatives to k-leather.
The commercial slaughter of kangaroos is the largest commercial slaughter of mammals worldwide, with an estimated 2 million wild kangaroos killed each year for their leather. The U.S. is the second largest commercial market for k-leather products in the world.
The United States banned the import of seal pelts in 1972 due to the infamously brutal Canadian seal hunt, which is ten times smaller than the commercial slaughter of kangaroos. However, some brands, including Adidas, Mizuno, L.L. Bean, and Lucchese, still use the controversial material.
Notably, brands like Puma, Nike, and New Balance announced in 2023 that they'd be discontinuing the use of k-leather in their footwear. However, the brand KangaROOS still appears to produce products (such as sneakers) in leather look, potentially including kangaroo leather, though specific confirmation of kangaroo leather use in their current products is not clearly stated.
The Kangaroo Protection Act is a significant step towards ending the commercial exploitation of kangaroos and promoting animal welfare. The bill's supporters hope that it will inspire other countries to follow suit and ban the sale and manufacturing of kangaroo products worldwide.
The previous version of the Kangaroo Protection Act was introduced to Congress in 2021 but died in committee. The bill was reintroduced to the Senate on Thursday and will now undergo further discussion and debate. Only time will tell if the Kangaroo Protection Act will become law and mark a new era for animal welfare in the United States.
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