Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-16 13:53:42|Editor: liuxin

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SYDNEY, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Over 50 wallabies were inhumanely slaughtered and left to rot over the weekend in the Australian State of Queensland, with the gruesome mystery continuing to shock local community.

Wildlife rangers who investigated the scene at the Mareeba Turf club told local media on Monday that they initially thought the animals must have been shot, however a more disturbing picture is beginning to emerge.

"One particular animal had been hit in the back, its back was broken and it was bludgeoned on the head, vice president of the Tablelands Wildlife Rescue Beth Stern told local media on Monday.

"This has been happening for a few weeks and we only found out about it on Friday," he said. "There are close to 100 animals that have been killed."

Mareeba Turf Club secretary John Thurlow said the venue had installed a kangaroo fence one month ago and someone has used the barrier to trap the wallabies.

"We were allowing the wallabies to become accustomed to [the fence] before we drove them out," he said.

"Someone has closed those gates and used our new fence to herd them into an area where they could take pot shots at them."

Animal welfare investigators also reported a number of arrow wounds and were horrified to find a number of joeys barely alive in their dead mothers' pouches.

"It was a horrific scene for people who care for wildlife," Stern said.