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Australian Kangaroo survives arrow through head
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-05-13 13:05

MELBOURNE  – Australian wildlife officers say a kangaroo survived for up to a week after being shot through the head with an arrow and is expected to make a full recovery.

Australian Kangaroo survives arrow through head
A Eastern Grey kangaroo shot in the head with an arrow being rescued by Wildlife Victoria officers. The kangaroo - now called Beau - was operated by Melbourne Zoo veterinarian Michael Lynch, and will be monitored for the next three weeks. [Agencies] Australian Kangaroo survives arrow through head
Wildlife Australia has posted a 10,000 dollar (US$7,600) reward to find the people responsible for shooting the kangaroo, which was found in parkland near Melbourne's outer suburbs last Thursday.

Veterinary surgeons from Melbourne Zoo operated on the stricken marsupial over the weekend and were optimistic about his chances.

"This was a big injury, but because the arrow didn't seem to have been in there for a long time, and the injury was fresh, hopefully he'll be okay," Melbourne Zoo vet Michael Lynch told reporters.

"I'm cautiously optimistic about the kangaroo's prospects for a full recovery."

Wildlife Victoria spokeswoman Fiona Corke said the kangaroo was rescued just days after another kangaroo was found with an arrow in its rump in the same location.

She said her organisation wanted to catch those responsible.

"It's just unbelievable, I just can't believe that anybody would do something so cruel. It must be a very cold-hearted person to do that," she told national news agency AAP.

Corke said the kangaroo was believed to have survived for up to a week before it was discovered and taken to an animal hospital.

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