WIRES volunteers were called out to Durras Lake North Holiday Park this morning to rescue a kangaroo joey that had been shot through the head with an arrow.

The Eastern Grey Kangaroo is less than one metre tall, around 18 months old and was last seen hopping into the Murramarang National Park on the South Coast of NSW.

“This is another victim of reckless behaviour towards animals in NSW. It is one of a growing list of native animals being shot with arrows around the state,” says a WIRES spokesperson.

“Unfortunately the joey was rounded up by its mother to join others and hopped into Murramarang National Park before it could be rescued.

“The joey appears to be part of a group of kangaroos that regularly feed in the grounds of the caravan park and probably only travelled a few hundred metres into the national park and will return at dusk to feed again.

“WIRES is coordinating a group of volunteers to conduct a search this afternoon and we hope to rescue the joey and bring it into care.

“Its ability to travel isn’t overly affected at this point, but its ability to feed is. Eastern grey joeys suckle for a lot longer than other kangaroo species. If it’s still feeding from its mother, it won’t be able to,” says WIRES.

WIRES has alerted the National Parks and Wildlife Service in the South Coast Region of the situation and police were called to the scene.

Police are conducting an investigation and would like any witnesses to contact Batemans Bay Police Station.

The shooting of an animal with an arrow is prosecutable under three Acts in NSW, the Firearms Act 1996, National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979. Fines for this kind of offence are in the thousands of dollars, alternatively, a conviction may also result in a custodial sentence.

"It's time to stop trying explain these events away with by blaming children or unlicensed hunters and start acknowledging that the regulations in place in NSW are not working. We need to tighten regulations around the sale of bows and arrows and how they are stored at a very minimum,” concludes WIRES.

Media Contact: WIRES (02) 8977 3327
Media Email: media@wires.org.au