At least 84 kangaroos have been found dead with gunshot wounds and injuries after being hit by a vehicle in regional Victoria.
The wildlife watchdog is investigating after at least 65 dead juvenile and adult eastern grey kangaroos were found in Gobarup in central Victoria.
Another 19 dead kangaroos with similar injuries were found near Hotham.
In Gobarup, police officers found the bodies of kangaroos scattered across 190 hectares of land after being alerted to the mass die-off by a local animal shelter on 22 June. The shelter had found dozens of dead marsupials in private pastures.
The caretaker who found the animals had to put three live kangaroos to sleep due to their serious injuries.
Two young kangaroos have been rescued and are being cared for by the local shelter.
Officers spoke with a landowner who has no interest in the alleged crime.
About 270km west of the crime scene, near Hotham, 19 bodies of eastern grey kangaroos were also found on June 23.
Authorities are investigating after 84 kangaroos were found dead in regional Victoria in what appears to be a massacre.
It is illegal to hunt wildlife in Victoria without a permit – with penalties including fines and jail time
Supervisors were notified of the deaths by a wildlife handler after a citizen reported the animals.
The murders at both locations are believed to have taken place between 5:00 p.m. on June 21 and 12:00 a.m. on June 23.
It is illegal to hunt, destroy or injure wildlife in Victoria. Any offence carries a fine of over $9,000 and six months imprisonment.
For additional violations of the animal cruelty law, offenders could face more than $98,000 or two years in prison.
Anyone with information about the kangaroos’ deaths is asked to contact Crime Stoppers.