Man caught in 'disgusting' act with kangaroo on suburban Aussie road

A WA man has been spared jail after pleading guilty to two counts of animal cruelty charges for catching and killing kangaroos 'for food' in suburban streets.

Joe Attanasio
·Senior Reporter
Updated ·2-min read
CCTV footage shows a WA man and his associates kill a kangaroo by beating it over the head, after it was attacked by their dog.
A West Australian man has avoided jail after pleading guilty to two animal cruelty charges relating to the brutal killing of kangaroos. Source: 9News

WARNING — DISTRESSING CONTENT: An Australian man who pleaded guilty to string of animal cruelty charges for catching and killing wild kangaroos on suburban streets has avoided jail.

The 24-year-old, from Dawesville in Perth, said it's part of his Aboriginal culture to hunt and kill the animals — but it's the way the he went about it that landed him in hot water with authorities.

CCTV footage captured in Dawesville shows the man brutally beating one kangaroo to death after it was attacked by his dog, while in another video, the man's companion is seen mowing down a second animal in his car at high speed. Large pools of blood and bloodied knives are seen in footage of the aftermath obtained by Nine News.

A kangaroo sits in the headlights before its mowed down by a car in Dawesville, Perth.
CCTV footage captures the man and associates running down at least one kangaroo with a car, while setting their dog on another, later clubbing it to death. Source: 9News

In sentencing, the magistrate accepted dogs were used in traditional indigenous hunting, but warned against such behaviour in suburban streets, saying the man's actions caused "significant stress" to the animals during their deaths, and profoundly upset wildlife carers in the community.

Some of these advocates, members of a marsupial care group, were present in court. Many were reduced to tears after hearing the full actions carried out by the young man.

"[He thinks] it's the culture to come into the suburbs and beat them to death," Jenny Norton of Peel Marsipual Care told 9News through tears. "It's disgusting".

The 24-year-old was placed on a six-month probation period and will be forced to carry out 60 hours of community service.

In Australia, all native animals across the country are protected under federal law and the killing of these species is strictly forbidden in most circumstances. Some exceptions are made for those who hold permits, including farmers and traditional landowners in indigenous communities.

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