Simon Neifer writes on LinkedIn: Big brands like Nike, Puma, Mizuno, and Adidas are dropping kangaroo leather from their boots. On the surface, this seems like an ethical move. But beneath the headlines, it reveals a deeper issue: What happens when emotion overrides environmental science?

Kangaroos in Australia are not farmed. They are wild animals that reproduce freely, with national populations regularly surpassing 30–40 million. Overpopulation leads to suffering: starvation, habitat damage, roadkill, and imbalances in native flora and fauna.

To manage this, Australia enforces annual culling quotas, typically 10–20% of regional populations. These culls are legal, strictly regulated, and designed to preserve ecological balance.