WITH an arrow hanging off one of its back legs, this kangaroo is the latest victim of cruel hunters who have been slaughtering and maiming native animals.

The eastern grey kangaroo was found near the Mogo State Forest on the South Coast of NSW on Friday, the day after a brush turkey was found with an arrow through its back at Avoca on the Central Coast.

media_camera An image supplied by WIRES of the injured kangaroo shot on the south coast, rescuers were unable to catch the hapless animal and fear it will die a slow and painful death.

“Just months after the NSW Government has opened hunting back up in our State Forests, we have incidents of native animals being unnecessarily maimed by uninformed or careless hunters,” Justin McKee of the Australian Wildlife Rescue Organisation said today.

WIRES was called to Avoca last Thursday when the bush turkey was spotted up a tree. Unfortunately it flew away before it could be helped.

A member of the public called WIRES on Friday to rescue the kangaroo which had been seen limping around on a property between Batemans Bay and Moruya. Like the brush turkey, the kangaroo was traumatised and would not allow rescuers to get close.

media_camera A brush turkey which has been shot with an arrow in Avoca just days before the kangaroo shot through the leg was discovered on the south coast. Picture: WIRES

Rescue volunteers fear the animals will die a slow and painful death as their mobility declines and the wound areas become infected.

“Unfortunately, the reason the kangaroo escaped the hunter who stalked and successfully harpooned it, is the same reason it has escaped rescue volunteers. The animal is traumatised and will instinctively avoid human contact,” Mr McKee said.

“These incidents are not in isolation.

“There have been reports by others of native animals being slaughtered within and around state forests.”

He said that the government had its work cut out policing hunting practices it was permitting.

Amateur hunters were allowed back into 200 state forests at the beginning of last month after being suspended in July last year following a damning report into its regulator, the Game Council of NSW.

“Barry O’Farrell needs to be tougher on those roaming our public lands armed with guns, knives and arrows,” Mr KcKee said.

He said native animals are protected under state and federal law and WIRES has asked for anyone who has information about the whereabouts of these or other injured animals or the hunters who shot them to contact WIRES or the police.

““If anyone sees this or any other in need, please call WIRES and help us to report these incidents to the NSW Police. We must see an end to the unnecessary slaughtering of native animals,” he said.

Phone WIRES on 1300 094 737.