Bold move after roos slain in horrific ‘thrill kill’

An investigation is underway after four kangaroos were shot or run down and a joey left orphaned in what activists have called an horrific “thrill kill” at a reserve southeast of Melbourne.

Police and wildlife services were called to Cardinia Reservoir, an hour from the Melbourne CBD, on November 4 after reports four kangaroos had been shot by a .22 calibre firearm.

The grim discovery was made by police about 7am but is believed to have occurred sometime after 7.30pm the night before, and has sparked outrage from local animal activists.

Wildlife Incident Safe Haven, or WISH, were called to the scene to help remove the roos and said a further three joeys died as a result of the incident, including two killed by foxes.

The fourth surviving joey, since christened with the name “Cardi”, was rushed to a veterinarian for emergency surgery and is now in the care of wildlife carer based in the area.

The slaying has prompted activists to take the rare step of offering their own reward for information, with a cash reward of $10,000 for information that leads to a conviction.

Victorian Kangaroo Alliance spokeswoman Jane Gibb told the Herald Sun “cruelty like this cannot be ignored” and that the “community stands firmly against such heinous behaviour”.

“With the generous contribution from appalled community members, we are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of those responsible,” she said.

The reward has been jointly raised between the VKA, the Gariwerd Animal Biodiversity Alliance, and Advocacy for a Kinder World, and comes amid an increase in illegal killings.

In Victoria, as in most Australian states, it is offence to “hunt, take, or destroy protected wildlife unless in accordance with a licence or authorisation issued under the Wildlife Act”.

Nonetheless, Ms Gibb warned of an uptick in killings, which included the slaying of 100 kangaroos who were either run over or shot in an indiscriminate slaughter in Central Victoria in June.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au