Youths to be charged over roo attack
 

Australia-Two youths accused of killing a kangaroo by deliberately running it down before repeatedly driving over it would be charged with animal cruelty, police said today.

A 17-year-old driver and his 21-year-old passenger were travelling in a four-wheel drive vehicle along Preston Beach Road, south of Perth, early yesterday morning when they went after the animal, believed to be less than 12 months old, Peel District Superintendent David Parkinson alleged.

They ran it down, before turning around and driving over it several more times, he said.

The driver has been charged with driving without a licence, but Supt Parkinson today said more charges would be laid.

"We have decided that we will charge the two fellows with killing the kangaroo under the Animal Welfare Act," he told AAP.

They will face a maximum five years in prison under the charges, if convicted.

Supt Parkinson said two youths had left the Preston Beach holiday house where they had been staying with the intention of harming kangaroos, hundreds of which congregate in the area.

"It was just a cowardly act, there was no rhyme or reason for it," he said.

Supt Parkinson said Preston Beach locals, many of whom handfeed the local kangaroos, were so outraged by the attack he had had to talk some out of vigilante retaliation.

He said a group of youths, allegedly including one of those believed involved in the roo attack, had also gone on a destructive rampage the night before, tearing up 91 reflector posts and about 10 street signs and leaving them strewn across the road.

"If anyone in a small car had come around the blind corners and hit one of the wooden poles or metal poles there could have been very, very serious consequences there," he said.

RSPCA spokeswoman Emma-Jane Morcombe said the attack on the kangaroo, which comes only a week after a koala was killed and mutilated at a wildlife park south of Perth, made her feel sick.

"We don't know why this is happening, but it does seem there is a blatant disregard for the welfare of our wildlife," she said.

:eek: :( i cant believe people can do things like that