A KANGAROO has been run over and scalped and another shot with an arrow in separate cases of animal cruelty.
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The shot kangaroo was spotted near the Bonegilla Migrant Experience on Friday, with the arrow still lodged in its chest, before being reported to wildlife rescuers.
It had to be put down the following day and a dead joey was found in its pouch.
Wildlife Victoria rescue volunteer Chris Lehmann said the animal had to be euthanised to avoid “dying a slow and horrible death”.
Mr Lehmann said he had also come across a dead kangaroo which had its ears and part of its scalp removed on the side of Baranduda Boulevard on Saturday morning.
He believes the animal had been deliberately hit, with tyre marks suggesting a car had performed a U-turn and run down the kangaroo on the side of the road before cutting it.
“There were tyre marks aimed directly at it and the animal was scalped,” he said.
“It’s unbelievably bad.
“You get acts of cruelty like this probably six to 10 times a year.
“Two in one weekend is pretty wild.”
Mr Lehmann said incidents where kangaroos were shot by arrows were “unfortunately a regular event in that area”.
The animal had been shot with a target arrow, rather than a hunting arrow.
While the joey wasn't hit by the arrow, Mr Lehmann said it probably died as a result of shock.
“It was probably just some young boys with a regular bow and arrow, doing something really stupid and cruel,” he said.
“It’s awful.
“It’s sad, especially as we weren’t able to offer her any other option than euthanasia because of the situation.
“It was even worse to look in her pouch and find a joey that had died as well.”
The native animals are a protected in Victoria, with penalties of up to six months in jail for killing them and fines of nearly $8000.
Kangaroos can only be shot by licensed and authorised authorities, with exemptions for Aboriginal cultural purposes.
Native animals are also protected in NSW.
Bows and arrows are not listed as controlled weapons.
Mr Lehmann thanked police for their assistance with the Bonegilla incident, which he said was distressing.
The arrow was removed from the dead animal.
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