At least 84 kangaroos have been found dead with gunshot wounds and traumatic injuries from being mowed down by a vehicle in two different locations in regional Victoria.

The state’s Conservation Regulator was investigating after finding at least 65 dead juvenile and adult eastern grey kangaroos in Gobarup, in central Victoria. About 19 more kangaroos were found dead suffering from similar injuries about 270km west of Gobarup, near Hotham.

In Gobarup, authorised officers found kangaroo bodies spread across 190 hectares of land.

They had been alerted to the mass deaths on 22 June, by a local wildlife shelter which had found dozens of the marsupials dead in private paddocks. The carer who came across the animals had to euthanise three live kangaroos due to their severe injuries.

Two joeys were rescued and were being cared for by the local shelter.

Officers have spoken with a landowner, who was not a person of interest in the alleged crime.

On 23 June, the bodies of about 19 eastern grey kangaroo were also found near Hotham.

Regulators were alerted to the deaths by a wildlife carer after a member of the public reported the animals.

The killings at both sites were suspected to have been carried out between 5pm on 21 June and noon on 23 June.

It is illegal to hunt, destroy or injure wildlife in Victoria with penalties of more than $9,000 and six months in prison for each offence.

Additional animal cruelty breaches can cost offenders more than $98,000 or two years in prison.

Anyone with information about the kangaroo deaths is being urged to contact Crime Stoppers.



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