Lord Mayor, RSPCA, condemn horror wallaby impalement along Hobart Rivulet

The horrific sight of a decapitated and impaled wallaby head found on a scenic Hobart walking track has been slammed as a “barbaric” and “alarming” act. WARNING: Graphic photos

The decapitated head of a wallaby. Photo: The Mercury

The horrific sight of a decapitated and impaled wallaby head found on a scenic Hobart walking track has been slammed as a “barbaric” and “alarming” act.

The animal head was spotted by a resident on an evening walk through the Hobart Rivulet, near the Molle St entrance.

The head, which appears to be decomposing around the jaw, was impaled on a stick and mounted on a tree, with what appears to be plant material wrapped around the trunk to hold the stick in place.

It is not known how the animal died.

The walker said it was not the first time they’d personally seen evidence of animal cruelty along the Rivulet.

A walker made the 'barbaric' discovery of a decapitated wallaby head stuck to a spike and attached to a tree along the Hobart Rivulet. Photo: The Mercury

“About a year ago I saw another animal strung up in a tree near the Wynyard St entrance, but this is horrific,” they said.

They said Hobart City Council should install CCTV to the area so people could not commit similar acts under the cover of darkness.

RSPCA Tasmania CEO Jan Davis condemned the act, and said the local wallaby population was an important part of the city’s landscape.

“It’s really distressing when people do such distressing things – when people do things to harm animals,” Ms Davis said.

“We want these people to stop being stupid and cruel, and harming defenceless and iconic local animals.”

She said the act was “totally unnecessary, thoughtless and cruel” and agreed that CCTV installed in the area may be a good idea.

The walker was horrified by the grim discovery. Photo: The Mercury

As for penalties that could imposed on a person who was found to have harmed an animal, Ms Davis said fines could be imposed by a court.

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds similarly slammed the incident.

“The city of Hobart condemns this barbaric, cowardly attack on a harmless native animal,” Ms Reynolds said.

She said that local bushland, parks and biodiversity staff regularly ran specialised programs, and walked and maintained the Hobart Rivulet while keeping an eye out for any issues.

“As horrific as this incident is, it is an isolated one,” she said.

“The city of Hobart urges anyone who witnessed or has any information about this cowardly attack to contact Tasmania Police.”