04-05-2025
Tragic detail in Aussie roadside photo prompts urgent call to action: 'Nothing more traumatic'
Footage showing a badly injured kangaroo, struck by a car and unable to move, has sparked widespread calls from conservationists and the public to slow down and pull over if they encounter an animal by the road in distress.
Charity group Southern Koala and Echidna Rescue shared a heartbreaking video this week of a kangaroo lying motionless on the side of a South Australian road, its body too badly injured to move except for its head. As cars sped past, the paralysed animal watched on helplessly.
"This video shows how stressful fast cars are for this poor roo that was hit and left badly injured. Our team took this footage while waiting for further assistance to arrive," the group wrote online.
It's the latest plea in just a matter of days from wildlife advocates who say the nationwide issue is getting worse. Speaking to Yahoo News on Friday, Queensland-based train driver and vocal wildlife advocate, Wil, also urged the public to "do the right thing" and stop if they strike an animal.
""If an animal jumps out last minute or you didn't see it, you can't help it, but every action after that, you can control. You can stop that vehicle, and you can go and survey the situation. You can provide care, if you're able to, you can get it to a wildlife carer. You can put it out of its misery," he said.
In SA, Southern Koala and Echidna Rescue later clarified that the most humane course of action was to euthanise the kangaroo. "Please slow down when you see cars with their hazard lights on because there is probably a hazard ahead, like a kangaroo, that has been struck by a vehicle and left on the road, too injured to move," it said. "There is nothing more traumatic for phone operators than to hear an animal get killed during the phone call because someone didn't slow down."
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Driving at night in Australia comes with a higher risk of wildlife collisions, as many native animals are nocturnal and often wander onto roads under the cover of darkness.
Slowing down in rural or bushland areas is not just about protecting animals — it's also about keeping drivers and passengers safe from potentially dangerous accidents.
When a driver sees an injured animal on the roadside, even if it appears to be dead, stopping safely and assessing the situation is a responsible and humane action. Often, animals may be alive but immobilised, or in the case of marsupials, may have young still alive in their pouches.
Wildlife advocates urge Australians not to turn a blind eye but instead to call trained wildlife rescue professionals who are equipped to attend the scene and provide appropriate care or humane intervention. Even if you're unable to assist directly, making that call can mean the difference between prolonged suffering and swift relief.
A simple act of compassion can have a profound impact — not only for the animal but for the values we uphold as a community.
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