Kangaroo deaths in Riverina canal raise wildlife safety concerns
Residents of Nericon have reported multiple kangaroos drowning in a plastic-lined irrigation canal, prompting calls for better escape routes.
In the south-western Riverina town of Nericon, a series of kangaroo carcasses have been discovered in a canal owned by Murrumbidgee Irrigation, where a plastic liner and fence were added in 2019. Local bus driver Anita Tovo has been documenting the drownings, observing that the problem has worsened in winter. The irrigation authority claims it maintains cameras, fencing and periodic escape structures, yet Tovo reports that many animals still perish.
WIRES spokesperson John Grant says volunteer responders are too distant to intervene before the kangaroos drown, describing the situation as an ongoing issue rather than isolated accidents. Experts such as university researcher Kylie Soanes suggest redesigning canal edges and adding proper escape ramps, citing examples from the Netherlands. Discussions between WIRES and Murrumbidgee Irrigation have taken place, but no concrete changes have been reported.
Why it matters
The deaths highlight how infrastructure can unintentionally harm protected wildlife and the need for better design safeguards.
In this story
