A kangaroo joey has been saved after its mother was cruelly shot and left for dead in Moorooduc, leaving wildlife rescuers devastated and heartbroken.
A resident raised the alarm after spotting the female kangaroo behaving unusually on their property in early July.
A volunteer from animal welfare group Vets for Compassion was called to the property where the kangaroo was safely and compassionately sedated under veterinary supervision.
“What we discovered was heartbreaking. She had been shot in the face, leaving her nose and jaw shattered. She was severely underweight, and her infected wounds had turned necrotic,” Vets for Compassion posted on its Facebook page.
“Despite her strength in staying alive for her baby, her injuries were too grave. She was humanely euthanised while fully sedated, surrounded by care and compassion in her final moments.”
The 2kg joey was able to be saved and remained in supervised care at a local wildlife shelter, “where she’s already settling in and doing well”.
Vets for Compassion said the resident who made the call “love the kangaroos who pass through their property” and “were devastated to learn someone had done this”.
“They knew something was wrong. The next day, she was found sheltering in a stable, wounded, weak, and still carrying her joey,” the post said.
Vets for Compassion urged anyone to reach out if they came across wildlife in distress as it could “mean the difference between suffering and safety”.
“Together, we can make sure no animal is left without help.”
The Facebook post received an outpouring of emotion, with dozens of comments expressing sadness, anger, and frustration.
Save the Kangaroos on Mornington Peninsula Inc. (SKOMP) spokesperson Jo Hansen also spoke of her disbelief and sorrow over the cruel act, saying “we will never understand how people can want to injure and kill such special animals”.
“An animal much admired and loved by so many people, yet we still have an attitude that they are a pest or worst of all, sport for target practice and fun,” she said.
“Our national symbol, the kangaroo, is seen on our coat of arms and widely used as a representation of our country.
“Over the years on the Mornington Peninsula rescuers have been called out to injured kangaroos. They have been shot with guns, arrows or deliberately hit by cars. They are left with horrific injuries and in extreme pain. Some are dead.”
Hansen said many have a joey in their pouch or at foot, with wildlife rescuers trying to help these distraught animals, most of which had to be humanely euthanised.
“This is frequently done by police. There is then a severely traumatised joey suffering from the loss of its mother to be taken to a carer for rearing,” she said.
“We wish people would understand that they are a family animal, caring for their mob members and their young.
“SKOMP runs walk and talk sessions every two weeks to try to educate the community about our national animal and change attitudes to see them protected from this form of extreme cruelty.”
First published in the Mornington News – 12 August 2025
