Koala towed behind ute in alleged act of animal cruelty

A koala has been put down in a small Victorian town after it was allegedly dragged behind a vehicle in an act of animal cruelty on Wednesday.

Eyewitnesses saw an older man wearing glasses driving a white Toyota ute with a metal toolbox fitted to the back, which had a koala tied with rope dangling from the tow bar, South West Local News reported.

The koala was dragged along King Street in Koroit, before the man drove to Victoria Park and left the animal there as locals were finishing footy training.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) said the koala had rope tied around its neck and was dragged for an unknown distance.

Distressing photographs seen by this masthead show the koala was extensively injured by the time wildlife rescuers were able to reach it. The photographs are too graphic to publish.

Wildlife Victoria rescuer Debbie O’Grady, who also volunteers for Mosswood Wildlife, took a call from a woman who had seen the man dragging the koala behind his ute, and raced to the scene.

When she got there, the koala was extensively injured, but still alive.

“It’s the most horrific rescue that I’ve been to,” she said.

“I’m just dumbfounded by it. I just can’t understand how anyone could do that to an animal, let alone a defenseless one.”

A volunteer veterinarian from the Mosswood Wildlife centre had to euthanise the animal.

IFAW’s Oceania head of programs, Josey Sharrad, said the incident was horrific and senseless, and the person responsible should have the book thrown at them.

“It is beyond belief that someone would do this to any animal, let alone an iconic koala,” Sharrad said.

“Koalas should be treasured, not tortured. The tireless volunteers at Mosswood Wildlife already see such devastation on a daily basis, but to see this deliberate act of cruelty and the extent of the horrendous injuries is something that will stay with them for a long time.”

The organisation is urging anyone who was in the area and witnessed the incident to report it to police as soon as possible.

It is the latest in a string of animal cruelty incidents reported in the area.

In 2023, an 18-year-old man filmed himself purposely running over a koala on Tower Hill, The Standard reported.

He was sentenced to three months’ prison in the Magistrates’ Court in 2024 after pleading guilty to aggravated animal cruelty, but that sentence was overturned on appeal to the Warrnambool County Court later that year.

In 2020, a P-plater was charged after allegedly intentionally trying to mow down kangaroos, wallabies and rabbits in the Tower Hill reserve.

Koroit, which had a population of 2184 at the 2021 census, is 18 kilometres north-west of Warrnambool.

In 2017, a koala was found mutilated on the side of Hopkins Point Road in Warrnambool with its ears removed, fuelling calls from police for information to help catch the culprit.

It’s understood multiple people reported the latest incident to police, but a police spokeswoman said the Conservation Regulator would take primary responsibility for the investigation.

Cal Heppell, director of regulatory operations at the Conservation Regulator, said the agency was aware of the alleged incident, and was investigating alongside police.

“We’re asking anyone with information about this incident to report it to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,” Heppell said.

An offence of aggravated cruelty can attract penalties of up to $101,000 and two years in prison.

Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app.