Roos shot dead

By Casey Neill
WILDLIFE carers and disgruntled farmers are being flagged as potential suspects in the deaths of five kangaroos found shot and dumped in Belgrave South.
The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) is investigating after motorists discovered the roos on the side of Courtneys Road, about one kilometre from Mount Morton Road, on Friday 16 October.
Sergeant Graeme Moore of Belgrave Police said the station received two or three calls about the kangaroos early that morning.
They arrived at the scene about 8am, called in wildlife workers to check the animals’ pouches and notified DSE, which is responsible for the abutting land.
“They’re not sure if the kangaroos came from that land or from somewhere else,” Sgt Moore said.
He had heard reports landowners in the area were sick of kangaroos entering their land.
“They might have been sending a message,” he said.
Shire spokesman James Martin said its local laws department had not received any complaints about kangaroos, but said the shire’s jurisdiction was limited because they were not domestic animals.
“Given that kangaroos are native animals it is almost impossible to prevent them from entering public land, especially in areas that are relatively rural in nature,” he said.
Shangri-La Wildlife Shelter’s Tina Hudson-Davies said she could not be sure who was responsible for shooting the roos without examining the bodies.
“It could have been carers wanting to make a stand,” she said.
“I hate to think it was a farmer.”
Ms Hudson-Davies had heard about other shelters ‘making a statement’ with animals they had been forced to euthanase.
“It’s a silly way to do things,” she said.
She said many farmers thought kangaroos competed with their livestock for grass.
“That’s simply not true. They are not sole grass eaters,” she said.
“It’s terrible. They really do get a raw deal.”
Ms Hudson-Davies said kangaroos did eat plants and shrubs and could scare livestock, but had heard of echidnas and even a turtle startling horses.
“It’s not just the kangaroos,” she said.
Monbulk wildlife carer Carol Seeger said it was unlikely a wildlife shelter was responsible.
“Nobody’s done anything like that,” she said.
“I know most of the carers in the area.”
She said a disgruntled landowner was the most likely culprit.
“It’s such a shame, they’ve already suffered with the fires,” she said.
DSE spokeswoman Lisa Dundas said it was illegal to harm or kill protected native animals under the Victorian Wildlife Act, including kangaroos.
Ms Dundas said those responsible for killing the roos faced a $5840 fine.
“And additional amounts per animal killed could apply,” she said.
She said DSE relied heavily on the public to investigate wildlife crime and urged anyone with information to call 136 186.