Kangaroo leather

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Kangaroo leather is a strong light weight leather derived from the hide of kangaroo.

Kangaroo is produced only from free ranging wild animals, it is not farmed.^[1][2] Both the meat and the hides are sold. Although most species of macropod are protected from hunting by law, a small number of the large-sized species which exist in high numbers can be hunted by commercial hunters.^[3] This policy has been criticized by some wildlife activists.^[4]

The leather is used in a wide variety of shoes.^[5] The unique structure of kangaroo leather allows it to be cut down to very thin substance (thickness of the leather) but still retain strength.^[5]

Kangaroo leather is also popular in manufacture of motorbike ‘leathers’ and is used to make a wide variety of other applications such as car upholstery, military boots and fashion accessories ^[6].

Studies conducted by the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) confirm that kangaroo is one of the strongest leathers of similar substance available.^[5][7]

Similarly when split into thinner substances kangaroo retains considerably more of the original tensile strength of the unsplit leather than does calf. When split to 20% of original thickness kangaroo retains between 30 to 60% of the tensile strength of the unsplit hide. Calf on the other hand split to 20% of original thickness retains only 1-4% of original strength.^[7]

Studies of the morphology of kangaroo leather help explain its particular properties.

The collagen fibre bundles in cattle hide are arranged in a complex weaving pattern. The fibres are often at angles as much as 90 degrees to the skin surface. Cattle hide also contain sweat glands, erector pili muscles and a distinct gradation in elastin levels, concentrated in the upper part of the skin. Kangaroo on the other hand has been shown to have a highly uniform orientation of fibre bundles in parallel with the skin surface. It does not contain sweat glands or erector pili muscles and elastin is evenly distributed throughout the skin thickness ^[8]. This structural uniformity explains both the greater tensile strength of the whole leather and the greater retention of strength in splits. Bovine skin is much more complex in cross section. Hence in whole section it has many more weak point from which tears can start when placed under tension. In addition when sliced into splits the collagen fibres running at significant angles to the skin surface will be cut. These then become weak points in the structural strength.

The Australian kangaroo industry produces a range of meat and leather products from animals harvested from the wild under strict government controlled Management Plans. These ensure the harvest is sustainable and humane ^[9]. A wide cross section of Australian ecologists support the kangaroo industry as being both sustainable and environmentally wise^[10]. Many argue kangaroos, which are native to Australia, are a more environmentally friendly livestock option than introduced sheep and cattle ^[11].

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