Man Faces Aggravated Cruelty and Firearms Charges Following Discovery of Nearly 100 Dead Kangaroos
A man from New South Wales appeared in court after dead kangaroos were found on the Singleton army base in October.
A resident of New South Wales (NSW) faced charges in the Raymond Terrace Local Court today following his arrest by a police rural crime prevention team in the Hunter Valley region of the state. The man was apprehended after 98 kangaroos were discovered shot to death on the Singleton Army base.
The defendant is facing six charges, including aggravated animal cruelty, discharging a firearm on the base, trespassing on Commonwealth land, and harming or attempting to harm protected animals.
Identified as Joey Pace, a 43-year-old from Williamtown, he is also accused of failing to ensure the safekeeping of his rifle during a police search of his property in December of the previous year. Upon the search, three firearms were allegedly seized, and it was noted that he did not have an approved storage facility for ammunition.
The Magistrate, Gregory Moore, ordered the suspension of his license.
Kangaroos are protected in all states and territories of Australia, with provisions for landowners to apply for a Permit to Destroy Wildlife to manage their population. Additionally, commercial culling is permitted in most states when kangaroo numbers become excessive.
Indigenous Australians also have the authority to hunt kangaroos for personal consumption.
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Defense attorney Glenn Kable informed the court that his client intends to plead not guilty to all charges.
Carcasses And Ammunition Boxes Discovered
Authorities were called to investigate the dead kangaroos, along with an ammunition box and two cartridges, found on the Singleton army base on October 8, 2024.
Pace declined to provide a statement outside the court.
Moore adjourned the case for a hearing on August 26, extended Pace’s bail, and instructed the police to deliver the evidence brief to his lawyer by May 1.
According to World Animal Protection, even the commercial shooting of kangaroos should be prohibited, as they are considered sentient beings capable of feeling a range of emotions.
The group argues that despite their protected status, kangaroos are subjected to a large-scale slaughter, with a significant portion being female kangaroos. This leads to the deaths of numerous joeys annually, often while still in their mothers’ pouches, using brutal methods like ‘blunt force trauma.’
The industry justifies the shooting of kangaroos by claiming it reduces grazing competition with farmed animals, despite evidence showing kangaroos benefit the environment by promoting plant health.
Kangaroos are sourced responsibly and in limited numbers, with all commercially targeted species classified as “least concern” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
