LOS ANGELES — Although a U.S. restaurant offering a dish with the national bird, the bald eagle, would seem unthinkable, in Australia the formerly endangered kangaroo is commonly found as barbecued kebabs or stir fried with vegetables.

So when the California Supreme Court effectively banned the sale of kangaroo leather soccer shoes in deciding a lawsuit this week, many Australians here asked why.

"Kangaroos are like rabbits in Australia," said Kalee StClair, who is from Sydney and has lived here for more than four years. "They're not protected at all, and it's actually encouraged to kill them.

"I guess they are really cute. And California is a sucker for a cute animal. Look at how people dress their dogs here."