Red-Necked joey shot

20th August 2002 - Sue Ulyatt

Most of the rescue calls we get as wildlifecarers, are as a result of accidental injury.

This call came in from a member of the public, having found a small Wallaby joey on the side of the road. The Joey was sitting next to his mother, and it was obvious from the state of the mother that she had been dead for some time, possibly up to 5 days. She had a number of bullet wounds, so this was not a car accident.


The rescuer carefully picked up the joey, that was very thin, dehydrated and had a nasty wound to his back leg. After picking up the joey from the rescuer, I took the joey to the Lismore Veterinary clinic, where the joey was x-rayed. It became apparent that not only did he have a broken back leg, but also a bullet from a 22 rifle lodged in his stomach.Unfortunately the infection caused by the bullet wound was much too advanced for this joey to survive, and he was humanely euthanased.
How sad to have to put this animal to sleep, after it had managed to stay alive for so long.

 

One wonders what makes a person aim a gun at a defenseless animal, not shooting once, but again and again, then not bothering to check if the animal is dead or alive. Had the shooter bothered to check, he or she would not have been able to miss this joey in his mother's pouch, he was 7 months old.
I sincerely hope this person thinks the short time he or she had fun with a gun was worth the suffering that was endured by this mother and joey

 

 

 

  
 
 

©Wildlife Mountain 2000 - 2012

 

We would also like to acknowledge the amazing support and help we have had from the Lismore Vet Clinic who have been an invaluable support to both us and the native wildlife of this region.


All native birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles are proteced under the Wildlife Act 1975, they may not be captured or harmed in any way without an authority issued under the Wildlife Act.

Webmaster Susanne Ulyatt