A kangaroo’s horrific bone-deep injury has highlighted the importance of community members refraining from cutting wildlife free from entanglement in wire fences.
Wildlife rescuer Krysti Severi was called to a property in Eden Park last week when a member of the public spotted a female kangaroo with a wire wrapped around its leg.
Rescuers believe somone attempted to set the kangaroo free from entanglement in a fence in an act of goodwill but, by cutting the fence, let the kangaroo escape with wire wrapped around its leg.
Ms Severi said the damage was ‘catastrophic’.
“Her Achilles tendon, severed in half. Necrotic tissue and her wounds thick in maggots,” she said.
“On her paw, her two middle digits broken. This poor little girl had suffered terribly.”
The wire was likely to have been etched into the kangaroo’s leg for up to two weeks.
Ms Severi said the person called a wildlife organisation about the kangaroo when it was initially trapped or soon after it was cut free, there was a chance it could have been saved.
“If we had of gotten to it sooner, we probably would have been able to save that sort of injury,” Ms Severi said.
“That injury was just way too far gone.”
If people spot a kangaroo trapped in fencing, Ms Severi encouraged them to keep their distance to reduce stress to the animal and immediately call a wildlife organisation.
Wildlife Victoria, which facilitates rescues for native animals across the state, can be contacted at 8400 7300.
“I know it’s very hard to see the animal in the fence and it is extremely distressing, but you actually cause more harm than good by cutting them out of the fence,” Ms Severi said.
“Please never cut a kangaroo out of a fence and let them go. The injuries under the skin are much bigger than what’s on the surface.
“It’s always better that a rescuer is on hand to attend.”
Entanglement in fencing was among the top four causes of death and injury to wildlife in the Macedon Ranges, Mitchell Shire and City of Whittlesea last year, according to Wildlife Victoria data.
Entanglement in fences resulted in nearly 90 eastern grey kangaroo casualties in 2022.
Ms Severi said entanglement in fences was a regular reason for rescues, though injuries weren’t usually as extensive as last week’s incident.
Ms Severi recommended that if homeowners could afford to remove the bottom wire of their fencing, they should do so for the sake of wildlife.
“Roos prefer to go under than over,” she said.
“There’s also wildlife-friendly gates that people can use – if you can find the kangaroos’ crossing, put a wildlife-friendly gate in, and they will start to use that gate.”