Four kangaroos found beheaded, castrated in Wollert

Distressed wildlife campaigners who found four decapitated and castrated kangaroos in Wollert say they’re “sickened” by the gruesome act.

Four kangaroos have been found decapitated and castrated in Wollert.

The discovery of four decapitated and castrated kangaroos in Wollert has left Whittlesea wildlife campaigners saddened but not surprised with one campaigner saying there is
“an absolute hatred towards kangaroos in the area”.

Wildlife campaigner Anna Balakas said she was “sickened” to find two kangaroos decapitated and castrated in a paddock near Harvest Home Rd earlier this month.

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“It makes me sick to think we have people out there in our community that think this is fun,” Ms Balakas said.

The kangaroos had no teeth marks to suggest an animal had killed them and Ms Balakas believed two people would have been needed to carry out the horrendous crimes.

A kangaroo found decapitated and castrated in Wollert.

A Wollert woman who did not want to be named also made grisly discoveries, finding beheaded kangaroos in a creek bed near the Muzzlewood Way bridge and one on the street in Saltlake Blvd this month.

Whittlesea wildlife campaigner Krysti Severi said horrific abuse of kangaroos and other animals had been going on in Whittlesea “for a long time”.

“There is an absolute hatred towards kangaroos in the area,” Ms Severi said,

“The fact they are being decapitated does not surprise me at all.”

The violent incidents come amid a boom in the number of kangaroos in residential areas of many Whittlesea suburbs.

Kangaroos in a Mernda street.

Ms Severi said she did not know if the attacks were in retaliation to the kangaroos moving into suburban areas, but the number of kangaroos being seen was not a reflection of the population growing.

“The reason why so many of them are appearing in residential areas is because development is forcing them into pockets,” she said.

Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) Port Phillip acting regional director Merryn Kelly said DELWP had received a report of two decapitated kangaroos in Wollert.

“This is unacceptable and we want to find the person or people who did this,” Ms Kelly said.

“Hunting and interfering with protected native wildlife are serious offences.

“We urge anyone living in the community of Wollert who may have seen or heard anything to assist with the investigation.”

Under the Wildlife Act 1975 anyone caught hunting or taking a kangaroo from the wild faces a $8059.50 fine and/or six months in jail.

Whittlesea Council planning and engagement acting director of partnerships George Saisanas said the council would continue to work with DELWP “on the increasing issues surrounding kangaroo management”.

Anyone with information about the attacks is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000.