Kangaroos shot in Greenvale

Craigieburn police are investigating the shooting of kangaroos in Greenvale last month. (Damjan Janevski) 236237_02

Craigieburn police are investigating after a number of kangaroos were found dead in Greenvale last month.

Police were called to vacant land near Alderback Way on Tuesday, July 19, where they found dismembered kangaroos.

It is believed the incident occurred between midnight and 1.30am.

Greenvale resident Sarah Shedden said she witnessed a kangaroo being dismembered by bolt cutters while others were shot and hung upside down on the back of utes. It is believed the incident happened less than 250 metres from residential properties.

“I am incredibly upset people are shooting our wildlife so close to all our houses, and so are our neighbours,” Ms Shedden said.

“There is a very real risk of stray bullets entering our properties and putting our families and pets at risk.

“The local kangaroo mob is our favourite thing about where we live.”

The Victorian Kangaroo Alliance’s Alyssa Wormald said it was illegal to shoot within a 250m radius of residential housing.

Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick said the incident highlighted the need to end the killing of kangaroos via the Kangaroo Harvesting Program and Authority to Control Wildlife Permits.

This year’s quota under the harvest program was set at 185,850 grey kangaroos.

“Ongoing shooting has the potential to devastate localised roo populations,” he said.

Anyone with information about the Alderback Way incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.