Venus Bay residents ‘disgusted’ to find 10 dead wombats, believed to be deliberately hit by drivers in 4WDs

A South Gippsland town has been left reeling in disgust after 10 wombats were deliberately mowed down in just one night, with their bodies discovered littering the streets.

Venus Bay locals are heartbroken and disgusted when they discovered vile drivers deliberately ran over 10 wombats in one night alone. Picture: Jack Colantuono

APRIL UPDATE:

Police have assisted DEECA following the death of 10 wombats at Venus Bay in February.

 

An 18-year-old male from Fish Creek has been interviewed in relation to the incident and has been released pending further inquiries.

 

A police spokesman said DEECA were leading the investigation.

EARLIER: 

A South Gippsland town has been left reeling in disgust after 10 wombats were deliberately mowed down in just one night, with their bodies discovered on the streets the next day.

Inverloch police are appealing for public assistance in identifying the people involved in the deliberate slaughter of the animals in Venus Bay on the evening of Tuesday, February 18.

“Approximately 10 wombats have been discovered deceased on various roads predominantly in the first estate,” a police spokesperson said.

“Police are keen to speak in particular with the driver’s of three 4WDs seen in the area between 10pm and 11pm.”

Venus Bay General Store manager Brooke Bridges told the Herald Sun most people were disgusted by the cruel act.

“Quite a few people are distraught — there’s a couple of wildlife carers who work in this town that deal with injured wildlife and you know they’re particularly upset and hard hit,” the 49-year-old said.

“They do a lot of hard work to help rescue wildlife — to have this happen where it seems to be on purpose is pretty disturbing — I think I could speak for just about everyone and say we’re devastated.”

Majority of the dead wombats were found on the first estate in Venus Bay this week. Picture: Jack Colantuono

Mr Bridges said one of the main reasons people visited Venus Bay was because of its wildlife

“People like to take their kids on a twilight stroll to spot koalas and the wombats around town,” he said.

“There’s big mobs of kangaroos that people love to see — and I think anyone in their right mind is going to be upset by what’s happened.”

Mr Bridges hoped whoever was responsible was caught and dealt with.

“It’s just gross what’s happened — it’s sort of still hard to believe,” he said.

Mange Management volunteer Sue Flere, who has lived in the area for 18 years, said wombats were unique animals.

“They’re amazing because they can walk through a garden and they don’t flatten everything — they’re like dainty hippopotamuses,” Ms Flere said.

Copyrighted signs created by Mark Radley made a big difference to wildlife preservation and were hung up at the Venus Bay General Store as a reminder.

“We’re really, really lucky to have them.”

She said she could feel the sadness in the town after people heard about the wombats getting run over.

“It was a very gloomy day — and (wombats) tend not to run across the road, they tend to wait,” Ms Flere said, implying the wombats were purposely hit.

Bass Coast South Gippsland Wildlife Shelter and Rescue carer Sue Moore said the deaths had caused “uproar” in the community.

“Everyone I see says, ‘how horrible is it?” Ms Moore said.

“As far as we know, they’ve been deliberately ran over.”

It comes after an anonymous user shared a post in the Tarwin Lower/Venus Bay Community Voice Facebook group that wombats were being targeted.

“There are at least 5 dead on 1st estate alone....no brake marks, no bits of damaged car, just carnage,” the user wrote.

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“Can anyone who has cctv etc please check for footage from last night (Tuesday) and if you have something of interest, please contact Inverloch police, who are investigating..... a very sad for the vast majority of decent people down here, and a big set back for our declining wildlife.”

Wombat Protection Society state representative Jen Mattingley said it was “unbelievable” that someone could harm wombats in this way.

“Most of the holiday makers are keen to allow the wombats to share their land, it would be really awful for the people living down there,” Ms Mattingley said.

“It would be quite devastating to have discovered these wombats in a way just slaughtered like that, because most of the (people) like them and they’re more than happy to live with them.

“Who has that mentality? Is it someone passing through? you can’t imagine anyone that lives in that lovely area would want to do something like that.”

A Conservation Regulator spokesperson said they received a report from a member of the public about the death of the wombats.

 

“We are seeking more information on the incident which appears to be a deliberate act of animal cruelty,” the spokesperson said.

“ If proven to be deliberate, this is an unacceptable crime against our native, protected wildlife.  

“We take all allegations of wildlife crime seriously and would urge anyone with information to contact 136 186, alternatively anonymous reports can be made via Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000, or by visiting crimestoppersvic.com.au.”

A South Gippsland Shire Council spokesperson said council was shocked to hear about the deliberate and cruel deaths in Venus Bay and Walkerville.

“To be clear, this act is a serious criminal offence and there will be consequences,” the spokesperson said.

“If anyone has any information on these deliberate deaths, we encourage the public to get in contact with Inverloch Police on 5674 1202.

“This behaviour is not okay. This is not who South Gippsland is.”

All wildlife is protected in Victoria under the Wildlife Act 1975, and it is illegal to hunt, take, destroy, injure or interfere with wildlife without authorisation.

Offenders face maximum penalties of more than $9870 and/or six months imprisonment.

Anyone who locates injured or deceased animals on public roads are urged to contact Wildlife Victoria on 03 8400 7300.