A man has been charged with torture after he allegedly ran down and killed up to 20 kangaroos with a ute on the South Coast at the weekend.
About 10.15am on Sunday, police were called to Dress Circle and Headland Drive, Tura Beach, 35km north of Eden, after reports of multiple dead kangaroos on the road.
It's believed an estimated 20 kangaroos were hit and killed between 10.30pm and 11.30pm on Saturday, September 28.
Detectives attached to South Coast Police District commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Following extensive inquiries, a 19-year-old man was arrested about 2.50pm yesterday (Tuesday) and charged with torture, beat and cause death of animal.
Police allege the kangaroos were hit by a utility being driven by the man.
Bega Valley Officer in Charge, Inspector Peter Volf, said acts of animal cruelty would not be tolerated by police.
"We take incidents such as these very seriously and anyone who engages in activities such as these will face the full brunt of the law," Chief Inspector Volf said.
The man has been granted conditional bail to appear before Bega Local Court on Tuesday, November 26.
Earlier story - September 29, 2019
It's been a heartbreaking night of mass slaughter on the South Coast after 16 kangaroos and two joeys were mowed down by a vehicle at Tura Beach.
WIRES volunteer Janine Green called it "carnage" after nine adult kangaroos and one joey were killed on The Dress Circle and a further seven kangaroos and one joey were killed on Headland Drive.
It is believed a vehicle was used to hit the animals sometime between 10.30pm and 11.30pm.
Police knocked on Ms Green's door at 1.30am Sunday holding a surviving joey that was taken from its dead mother's pouch.
But she believes there may be more injured animals out in Tura Beach following Saturday night's horror incident.
"This is so far the sole survivor," Ms Green said.
"We are asking all residents to be on the lookout for any others in the area that may be injured and are lying in bushland or vacant blocks," Ms Green said.
Tura Beach resident Rob Evans who supplied the images said that some are confronting "but do illustrate why people have been so outraged by this senseless piece of stupidity".
"The rather dull image of the tyre tracks over the kerb give an idea of the speed of the vehicle but also reminds us that the people behind this were endangering not only their intended kangaroo victims but also anyone else on the nature strip at 10.30 to 11pm in the evening.
There has been widespread condemnation from people posting on social media with local parents saying how distressing it was to see the dead bodies especially for children.
Police and WIRES volunteers are calling for anyone with CCTV footage or any information relating to the killings to come forward.
