A wildlife rescuer who tried to save a kangaroo that had been shot in the head with a crossbow wants harsh penalties for illegal hunters.
Five Freedoms Animal Rescue owner Manfred Zabinska said he was called by a family living near Woodend last year to search for a kangaroo that had been shot by hunters who went onto their property without permission.
“We want to see justice and we want a message to be sent to the community that there is a harsh penalty for people who do this sort of thing,” Mr Zabinska told Star Weekly after the third court appearance of the hunter involved.
The male eastern grey kangaroo, which the family had named Spot, survived with the arrow in his head for a month before Mr Zabinska and a team of volunteers tracked him down, tranquilised him and took him to a vet.
Spot died three days after undergoing surgery.
“It was really distressing for everyone involved,” Mr Zabinska said.
“From the rescue, to taking it to the vet, and seeing this kangaroo eventually die, was hard.”
James Jonathan Calleja, 34, faced Bendigo Magistrates’ Court a fortnight ago on three animal cruelty charges, two charges of trespassing and weapons offences.
The magistrate ordered a pre-sentencing report and Calleja will be sentenced on September 12.
The court heard Calleja and his brother took an unregistered car to Ashbourne on August 12 last year, and were decked out in camouflage gear and armed with a crossbow.
Police raided Calleja’s Sunbury residence on October 2 last year, where a Fang crossbow and 28 crossbow bolts were found.
At an earlier hearing in Kyneton Magistrates Court Calleja refused to give a plea.
The case was adjourned to Castlemaine where it was subsequently adjourned to Bendigo.
“At the very least, we need a message to be sent out that this behaviour is unacceptable,” Mr Zabinska said.
