SYDNEY, Sept. 22 (UPI) — Police in Australia say 10 wombats appeared to have been deliberately run over at a campsite in the state of New South Wales.
Four feeding mothers were among the dead, and one baby wombat, known as a “joey,” was still in his dead mother’s pouch, police say.
The animals were found Saturday and Sunday at the Kangaroo Valley campsite, about 96 miles from Sydney. Authorities say their wounds were consistent with being struck by a vehicle.
“There is the possibility that some of the others [had joeys], but with other animals in the area, they may not have been able to be located, because of the interference of other animals,” Inspector Susan Charman-Horton told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Wildlife Rescue South Coast President Richard Woodman told the BBC that any surviving joeys seeking food or water face the threat of foxes, and that campsite staff and volunteers were combing the area in an attempt to find survivors.
While no one has reported seeing the animals being killed, witnesses told the ABC a white four-wheel drive vehicle was seen on the roads throughout the night.
Woodman said the surviving joey, who is five months old, was named “Lucky” and will remain in care for another 13 months before being released into the wild.
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