10 September 2013:

The Australian Society for Kangaroos and local Booral residents are outraged over the lack of action by RSPCA and Queensland Police over the barbaric and illegal shooting of over 20 kangaroos and joeys, and a cow by a Queensland Police Officer in December last year.

A Queensland police officer is being investigated for the illegal slaughter of more than 20 kangaroos. Horse riders stumbled on the carcasses of the roos on a property at Booral, near Hervey Bay, last month. Some joeys were shot at point-blank range, and only one of the three young that survived the shooting could be saved.

As a protected animal, it is an offence to kill a kangaroo without a permit, and carries fines of up to $10,000 per roo. To obtain a permit, landholders must outline the damage a kangaroo population is causing.

The Department of Environment and Resource Management has turned its investigation into the Booral shooting over to Queensland Police, who on Tuesday confirmed The Fraser Coast Chronicle’s report that one of its own officers was being investigated.

“Investigators have spoken to a number of people including a serving police officer as part of their inquiries,” police said in a statement late on Tuesday”.

“It is alleged by the police officer concerned that he had the long-term permission from an owner of the property to be on the property and use firearms there.”

Australian Society for Kangaroos president Nikki Sutterby says illegal shootings are not uncommon around the country.

“It happens all the time and unfortunately because our government supports the commercial slaughter of kangaroos I think the public thinks it’s open season,” she said. Ms Sutterby said residents near the property were distressed by the massacre as the mob was a welcome feature of the area.

One of the female roos would regularly come to the back door of one home and had recently brought her joey to visit.

Ms Sutterby said this was not a case where locals were in conflict with the roo population – quite the opposite.

“The residents were devastated about it because there was only about 20 roos in the area,” she said.