By Jesse Graham
Yarra Glen police officers were forced to shoot down a kangaroo that came at an officer after being injured in a car crash on Wednesday night.
Sergeant Richard Coulson said that about 11pm on Wednesday, 22 February, a couple travelling along Maroondah Highway near Domaine Chandon winery hit a large kangaroo.
“It resulted in extensive front-end damage to the vehicle,” Sgt Coulson said.
He said that although the male kangaroo was “extensively injured”, it was still alive and “aggressive” and police were called to put the animal down.
After arriving on the scene, Sgt Coulson said the injured animal “came back onto the roadway” before approaching his accompanying officer.
“It went towards the policeman who was trying to despatch it,” he said.
“It was the biggest kangaroo I’ve seen.”
The animal was then shot and killed.
Sgt Coulson said there had been an “increasing incidence” of drivers hitting kangaroos in the Yarra Valley over the last six months, and urged residents to be mindful of wildlife at night.
“Just maintain vigilance and be prepared to slow down if there are animals on the roadside,” he said.
“A wombat can do a lot of damage to a car, too.”
He said the car that hit the kangaroo was likely repairable – but was too damaged to be driven from the scene and was towed away.
Sgt Coulson said police had reported the fired shots to Victoria Police, as per procedure.
