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A Victorian man has been convicted and fined $80,000 after 71 eastern grey kangaroos were found dead on his rural property.
The 65-year-old admitted to causing or likely causing the pain, suffering and death of the animals on his property in Nathalia in 2021.
Most of the kangaroos were shot but did not die straight away.
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Among the dead were two joeys, one of which likely starved to death after its mother was shot while the other is believed to have suffocated in its mother’s pouch.
The man held a valid Authority to Control Wildlife (ATCW) permit, but admitted to engaging shooters to act on his behalf.
The shooters were found to have used inhumane methods, including non-fatal gun shot wounds.
He pleaded guilty to four aggravated cruelty charges at Shepparton Magistrate’s Court last week.
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The Conservation Regulator Victoria was alerted to the act of animal cruelty by members of the public.
Authorised officers then went to the property to investigate, where they discovered several piles of dead kangaroos, most of which did not appear to have “instantaneous” injuries as required by law.
A qualified veterinarian found that the adult kangaroos would have experienced “a high degree of pain and suffering” prior to their death.
The two joeys would likely have experienced “pain and suffering due to slow and lingering deaths” after their mothers were shot.
Authority to Control Wildlife permits have strict conditions including approved firearms and ammunition, criteria for “instantaneous injury” and how to manage joeys or animals with dependent young.
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