Volunteer rescuers from Wildlife Victoria, Wildlife Rescue and Information Network and local community members joined forces last week to rescue a male kangaroo that had been cruelly shot through the head with an arrow at Chewton.
The kangaroo, estimated to be about seven to nine years old, was first spotted in bushland behind homes in Church Street Chewton on August 7.
A resident contacted Wildlife Victoria and rescuers attended the scene but were unable to spot the injured animal.
A call out was placed on local social media site Castlemania and over the following days community members scanned the bush for the injured roo.
He was spotted again by a local resident on Monday in the vicinity of Mitchell Street who was quick to alert rescuers, but the roo once again alluded volunteers when they attended to capture him.
The exhausted animal was eventually tracked down in a gully near Church Street on Wednesday and sedated before being raced to Castlemaine Veterinary Clinic for x-rays and an assessment in consultation with the team from Healesville Sanctuary.
Experts at the Zoos Victoria facility were able to advise local veterinarians that it was safe to remove the arrow.
The roo, named ‘Berkeley’, pulled through the risky surgery and was then taken to Red Box Wildlife Shelter to recuperate. The team said Berkeley was already up and hopping about on Thursday. Volunteers are hopeful he will make a full recovery from the ordeal and be able to be released back into the wild.
Wildlife volunteers and community members involved in the rescue were extremely disturbed and disappointed by the shocking act of aggravated animal cruelty and urge anyone with information to contact local police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. The reference number for the case is: 199502003008. The arrow has been identified as a black Musen brand arrow with the markings: MSTJ – 78HS 500.
Five Freedoms Animal Rescue in Trentham has also offered a $1000 reward for information on the incident.
The volunteers are hopeful the offender will be tracked down and brought to justice.
