A Bunbury wildlife carer has called upon all community members to help look after the region’s native species following a sickening case of animal cruelty.
On Saturday, September 1, a member of the public called Wildlife Care Bunbury owner Doreen Jones in relation to a deceased possum they had seen on Forrest Highway.
Ms Jones then sent a 22-year-old volunteer carer to check if there were any babies inside the possum’s pouch.
After reaching the area and finding the deceased possum, the carer was shocked to discover that it had been hung up on a tree with a stick driven through its eyes.
Ms Jones said the carer was shocked and distressed by what they had seen.
The possum had been removed before Ms Jones visited the area later that day.
“She went off for about half an hour and she came back in a very upset mess, and when I asked: ‘What’s happened?’, she responded: ‘I found it but someone had put a stick through its eyes and had hung it in a tree’,” Ms Jones said.
“There were no babies in it at the time.
“It makes me sick that there are some people out there that would do that sort of thing.”
Ms Jones told the Mail Wildlife Care Bunbury comes across “one or two cases per month” of a similar nature, including incidents of drivers purposefully swerving towards animals on or near the road.
She said lizards, turtles, possums, and kangaroos were regularly found injured or deceased by the group.
“We do see a lot of nasty things, it’s just the way people are in their cars and the way people react to things,” she said.
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Wildlife Care Bunbury is run by Ms Jones, who goes out to assist sick or injured animals at all times of the day or night.
The group has several volunteers who provide a helping hand to feed and/or look after the animals.
Ms Jones said people who find animals in peril can contact her by phone or via the Wildlife Care Bunbury Facebook page.
An RSPCA WA spokesperson said they received on average around 19,000 calls per year regarding animal cruelty.
They said RSPCA WA Inspectors have responded to over 107 reports of cruelty in the City of Bunbury so far this year.
They added the inspectors had responded to 167 cruelty reports within the City of Bunbury in 2017.
Contact Ms Jones on 0418928439 for assistance with sick, injured or deceased animals.
Community members can also donate food and supplies to the organisation.