RSPCA investigates deliberate attacks on kangaroos in Albany

The RSPCA is investigating reports of kangaroos being deliberately run over in Albany, Western Australia.Warning: This article contains details and an image readers may find distressing.Warrenup resident Mary Saunders told the ABC kangaroos had been targeted in the area for several years."As an animal lover it's just become overwhelming, to the point now I drive into the estate and I'm just filled with this overwhelming feeling of sadness," she said.Mary and Robert Saunders have spent years advocating for the safety and protection of Australia's native wildlife. (ABC Great Southern: Will Corbett)Ms Saunders called the police when she came home late last Saturday night and saw a female kangaroo with its legs severed and bones sticking out."I looked inside the pouch and sure enough there was a beautiful little joey still attached to the teat, suckling," she said."Severing that teat and taking the joey out was probably the most heartbreaking thing I've ever had to do."Mary Saunders rescued this joey after finding its mother injured. (Supplied: Mary Saunders)Ms Saunders said she found a kangaroo and its joey dead on her property during Easter and that in June she and her husband, Robert, saw three dead joeys lined up on the side of the road."No sign of road trauma, but the three lined up obviously placed there by someone," Ms Saunders said.'Far too many' deaths to be accidentalRSPCA inspector Shaye Barrow said the incidents were concerning and that "quite a number" of kangaroos had been found dead and injured, leaving joeys orphaned."There was at least one where we've had a joey that was deliberately targeted, but the joeys that have been left orphaned have been taken in by wildlife carers, thank goodness," she said.Mary Saunders has reported numerous deliberate acts of violence towards kangaroos in Warrenup. (ABC Great Southern: Will Corbett)Wildlife carer Maggie van Santen said Ms Saunders did the right thing on Saturday night."She's a hero in my eyes, rescuing that little baby," Ms van Santen said."She brought her to me on Sunday morning and yeah, she saved the little one's life."Maggie van Santen rehabilitates injured kangaroos. (Supplied: Maggie van Santen)She said it seemed as if there was a "constant stream" of kangaroos being killed."And I understand that, yes, kangaroos do jump in front of cars, and I do understand accidents happen, but it's up to the driver then to take responsibility and check," Ms van Santen said."But I honestly believe that there are far too many that have been killed in that area in the last couple of months for it to be accidental."A joey was taken from the pouch of this kangaroo after it was hit by a car. (Supplied: Mary Saunders)Ms Barrow urged the public to make reports to the RSPCA."We've had at least half a dozen reports made since June, including some cases dating as far back as January in relation to people deliberately running down roos in the Warrenup area," she said."So we've had a number of witnesses come forward, but unfortunately the CCT footage and witness accounts we have today haven't yielded any concrete information in terms of number plates of vehicles and things like that."Anyone with information can contact the RSPCA on 08 9209 9300.