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AN ARROW has been successfully removed from the body of a kangaroo, after it was found shot in Strathdale this morning.
The animal will be taken to a wildlife shelter.
Earlier
ANIMAL rescuers believe a kangaroo found shot with an arrow in Strathdale was harmed intentionally.
A resident reported the kangaroo - which appeared to have been shot through its body - to Wildlife Victoria on Tuesday morning.
Rescuers sedated the animal, which had a joey in its pouch, before taking it to a vet.
Wildlife Victoria rescuer Ian Slattery tranquilised the kangaroo with a dart gun, because it was still moving around.
He said some kangaroos survived similar incidents, but some did not, depending on the nature of the injuries.
It was too soon to say whether this animal would survive, Mr Slattery said. He did not believe the joey would survive without its mother.
Mr Slattery said the incident was clearly a deliberate act of animal cruelty.
"These are protected native wildlife, protected under legislation, this is a prosecutable offence," Mr Slattery said.
"We see too many cases like this, there needs to be more done about regulating the use about bows and arrows.
"Really arrows need to be identified, so when we get situations like this ... we can actually track back to see who purchased it."
Read more: Kangaroo shot with arrow near Kyneton
Wildlife rescuer Rachael Bennett said the arrow seemed to have missed the kangaroo's vital organs, but couldn't say for certain.
A resident of Golden Glade in Strathdale found the injured kangaroo at the edge of his back fence.
Victoria Police are investigating the incident.
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