An apparent intentional attack atop Mount Panorama last Saturday has local wildlife experts calling for improved welfare around the management of kangaroos.
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Local resident Liam O'Dell came across the deceased male eastern grey kangaroo at McPhillamy Park during a weekend drive.
Mr O'Dell found the corpse lying amidst fresh sets of tyre tracks, suggesting a vehicle had deliberately run over the kangaroo.
"The tyre marks clearly came off the gravel path onto the grassy area, and there was evidence the vehicle was doing burnouts," he said.
"It made me feel frustrated and angry that people can be so heartless and senseless."
Mr O'Dell posted the grim discovery to Bathurst's crime watch page, which caught the attention of Central West Animal Justice Party [AJP] leader Queenie Green.
Ms Green, who is also a WIRES Central West volunteer, said kangaroos are listed as a protected species through the state government's Biodiversity Conservation Act and called the act a callous example of animal cruelty.
"A lot of people in the Central West look at kangaroos as a pest animal, so they don't recognise the sentience of the species," she said.
"It's illegal to harm native animals, and we need to get tougher on acts of cruelty."
According to the Biodiversity Conservation Act, a person who harms or attempts to harm a protected species in NSW can be fined and sentenced to a maximum of two years imprisonment.
Ms Green feels there's a worrying correlation between animal cruelty and the issue of domestic violence.
"The Central West has been flagged as a domestic violence hot spot, and we need to highlight examples like this to condemn cruelty in all forms," she said.
"Cruelty is cruelty, regardless of whether it's being inflicted on humans or animals."
Mr O'Dell shared Ms Green's sentiment by suggesting people should start more conversations around the issue of cruelty.
"When I posted the discovery to the crime watch page, an overwhelming amount of people condemned the act but sadly, a small number found it amusing," he said.
Ms Green said any evident act of animal cruelty should be reported to the police straight away.
"We need to do better by our wildlife," she said.
What do you think?
Sam Bolt
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
