In Australia, 24 October marks Kangaroo Day — a day to remember not only the country's symbol but the entire macropod family, which numbers around 59 species. In 2026, against the backdrop of yet another powerful El Niño, this celebration takes on special meaning: climatic shifts are increasingly weighing on these animals, from the large red kangaroos to the tiny potoroos.
Large species such as the red kangaroo and the grey kangaroos have already endured serious population fluctuations. During the drought that began in 2000, the population in eastern Australia fell by roughly 30 million individuals, and by 2014 it had recovered to 47 million. However, the Black Summer fires of 2019–2020 claimed the lives of or left homeless millions of mammals, including more than five million kangaroos and wallabies.
Smaller macropods suffer more severely. Gilbert's potoroo is on the brink of extinction, while the mala and other species face the loss of their usual habitats due to intensifying droughts and fires. Models show that by the end of the century, suitable territories for many species could shrink by 83–96 percent under the influence of climate change and urbanisation.
Animals whose ranges are already limited are especially vulnerable: tree kangaroos in the rainforests of Queensland, the musky rat-kangaroo and other inhabitants of narrow ecological niches. Urban expansion is taking from them the spaces that once served as refuges, while new weather extremes deprive them of food and water.
Kangaroos possess a remarkable ability to pause pregnancy during unfavourable periods, but even this adaptation does not always save them from the combined pressure of droughts, fire and landscape fragmentation. Studies show that individual animals and entire populations respond differently to stress, and recovery from climatic shocks is becoming increasingly difficult.
Conserving macropods requires not only the protection of existing territories but also thoughtful planning that takes into account both climate forecasts and the needs of people.
