Heroes save baby wallaby after mum shot dead

Animal lovers and activists have been left horrified after a swamp wallaby joey was set alight and left to die in bushland near Newcastle on Friday. His mum was found shot nearby.

Animal lovers and activists have been left horrified after a swamp wallaby joey was set alight and left to die in Cardiff bushland last Friday.

Two men walking through the area discovered the joey inside a cage which had been placed into a hole with two burning logs covering it.

His mum was found dead nearby and also discovered other horrific acts of cruelty.

“The guys also located an adult swamp wallaby dead with a bullet wound to the head, as well as the decapitated heads of two cats hanging in trees nearby trees,” NSW Upper House MP for the Animal Justice Party Mark Pearson said.

“I’m shocked and sickened by this extreme level of cruelty. It’s clear the person or people who did this to these wallabies and cats did so with the intent to harm. These animals, particularly the wallaby joey, would have suffered incredible stress and pain. In fact, what they did constitutes as torture under the Crimes Act.”

The infant wallaby was rushed to Macquarie Vetz at Warners Bay where he was placed into intensive care but was found to be in good condition, suffering burns and shock.

Hunter Wildlife President Audrey Koosman labelled the pair who found the animals as heroes.

“One of them raced to the joey’s rescue by throwing the burning logs off the cage and, in doing that, he burnt his hands, then grabbed the animal out of the cage,” Ms Koosman said.

“The joey was in a state of shock and terror, shaking like nothing they had ever witnessed.”

Ms Koosman believes the joey will be receiving treatment for months to come.

The little guy was found in a cage inside a hole in the ground with burning logs on top.

“He suffered burns to his nose (but) he’s improving daily. Police have also been wonderful. Their concern as well as what happened to the animals is that someone is running around with a .22 rifle.

“In all the years I have rescued and cared for wildlife, this is the most terrible, disgusting act of cruelty I have come across,” Koosman said.

Darren Brollo from Newcastle’s Animal Justice Party says the act of cruelty is unthinkable.

“It’s horrifying to think the person responsible for these unconscionable acts of cruelty are out there today, walking the same streets as everyone else in our animal-loving community,” Brollo said.

Police are urging anyone with any information to contact Belmont Police or Crimestoppers.