Police are investigating how a kangaroo with a joey in its pouch was shot with an arrow on the New South Wales Central Tablelands near Lithgow.
Wallerawang community members are looking for the injured animal after it was spotted with an arrow piercing its back at Lake Wallace on Saturday, July 4.
Volunteer and macropod coordinator for WIRES Julie Eggenhuizen said she felt distressed that the animal got away before she could treat it.
“We’re all concerned that she isn’t going to be okay and that she’s out there suffering and we can’t find her,” she said.
“We lose sleep over that, because we know there’s an injured animal and we can’t do anything about it because we can’t find them.“
A member of the public called the wildlife rescue organisation on July 4 after they saw the injured animal on their morning walk.
Ms Eggenhuizen assembled a team of six to find the kangaroo and attempted to surround it with nets.
Julie Eggenhuizen is worried about the injured kangaroo. (Supplied: Julie Eggenhuizen)
She said the animal was “skittish” and could not be captured, so the group waited in bushland watching it for three hours while a tranquilliser operator came from Sydney to help.
But then boys on dirt bikes drove through the reserve and scared the mob.
“They all bolted into the forest, and there was no way we could get close to her again,” she said.
“It was a real shame.”
Ms Eggenuizen said she spotted the animal through her binoculars and it appeared the arrow had come out of its back.
“She would still be suffering; she’s still got a wound. If you’ve had an arrow go through your skin, it’s going to take time to heal,” she said.
“These sorts of injuries that we see are just people having a sport.“
Ms Eggenguizen was concerned the wound could become infected and leave the kangaroo unwell.
She said there were “lots and lots” of Wallerawang community members going on walks to find the animal.
“The best we can hope for is that it was minor and that she heals and goes on to live a happy life and take care of her little joey.”
