Wildlife campaigner spends days euthanising kangaroos in suburbia

A wildlife campaigner has warned drivers to be on alert day and night for kangaroos in Melbourne’s outer north, as housing developments force mobs into suburbs and on to busy roads.

Mernda man William Sharp surrounded by kangaroos near his home.

More than 50 kangaroos a week are being killed or injured by cars on Whittlesea roads, a wildlife campaigner has revealed.

Krysti Severi said she received an average of seven calls a day to put down injured roos struck by vehicles in the municipality, highlighting the extent of a kangaroo crisis.

Ms Severi said a dedicated wildlife corridor and better lighting and signs were among the measures needed to end the carnage.

“It’s beyond a joke, it’s really quite serious,” she said.

“If you don’t care about kangaroos think about the damage it is doing to your car.”

Ms Severi said increasing development in once rural areas including Mernda and Doreen was driving kangaroos into small suburban pockets.

“We are seeing a lot now in Mernda on the streets getting hit where you have a long stretch of road and people don’t adhere to the speed limit,” she said.

“People need to be aware now at all times of the day, not just dawn and dusk.

“They are moving around, trying to get out of the streets constantly,” she said.

But she said the deaths were likely just the tip of the iceberg with many accidents not being reported resulting in kangaroos suffering painful and prolonged roadside deaths.

She was constantly keeping her eye out for injured kangaroos.

“I’ve attended nine call outs in a day …,” she said.

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“When you live in such a high wildlife area you need to factor in the wildlife.”

The growing number of euthanasia call outs comes amid news Whittlesea Council will hold a wildlife forum involving Wildlife Victoria, the State Government and residents in response to growing calls from the public for a change in how Whittlesea wildlife is protected.

Mernda man William Sharp called on the council to host the forum following a report by Leader that four decapitated and castrated kangaroos had been discovered in Wallan.

Mr Sharp said it was “beyond time” a wildlife management plan was created for the municipality.

“We need to assess what we have got, where it is and how we manage it,” Mr Sharp said.

When and where the forum would be held had not yet been decided.

RACV general manager of public policy Bryce Prosser said there had been 1572 claims involving a collision with an animal in Victoria in the past financial year.

Motorists should brake, but not swerve to avoid a collision with an animal, Mr Prosser said.

Anyone who hits an animal should call WIRES on 8400 7300