Many marsupial species (particularly the kangaroo) are perceived as being in competition with sheep for grazing land; and therefore considerable effort has been devoted to exterminating them. Others are threatened by the degradation of their habitat. Others, including rare species, are slaughtered as a cheap source of meat.
Marsupials are found only in Australasia. Seven species are extinct, twelve are endangered and of the 29 remaining, abundant macropod species are being killed by millions every year.