Arabic version: جمعية الرفق بالحيوان تحقق في نفوق كناغر في ضاحية ألباني

According to ABC News, the RSPCA is investigating reports that kangaroos have been deliberately harmed and run over in Warrenup, on the outskirts of Albany in Western Australia. The animal welfare organisation says multiple reports have been made this year, while residents say they have found dead and injured kangaroos in the area over several years.

Warrenup resident Mary Saunders said she called police late last Saturday night after finding a female kangaroo with severed legs and a joey still suckling in its pouch. She removed the joey and took it to wildlife carer Maggie van Santen the following morning. Ms Saunders also said she found a kangaroo and its joey dead on her property during Easter, and that she and her husband Robert saw three dead joeys lined up beside a road in June.

RSPCA inspector Shaye Barrow said the incidents were concerning. She said quite a number of kangaroos had been found dead or injured, leaving joeys orphaned, and that at least one joey had been deliberately targeted. Orphaned joeys have been taken in by wildlife carers, she said.

Ms van Santen said there appeared to be a constant stream of kangaroos being killed. While acknowledging that kangaroos can jump in front of vehicles and accidents happen, she said drivers should check after a collision and that there had been too many deaths in the area in recent months for all of them to be accidental.

Ms Barrow said the RSPCA had received at least half a dozen reports since June, including cases dating back to January involving allegations that people deliberately ran down kangaroos in Warrenup. Witnesses have come forward, but available CCTV footage and accounts have not provided concrete information such as vehicle number plates. The RSPCA has urged anyone with information to contact it on 08 9209 9300.