Three men who tortured and killed a baby kangaroo have escaped a jail sentence.

Zachary Hunter and brothers Brett and Scott Saunders filmed themselves tormenting the joey over the course of several hours.

They chased, hit and kicked the terrified animal in a park near Seymour, in Melbourne's north.

The alleged ringleader Scott Saunders was handed a two-month suspended sentence, the others each received a community-based order.

Appalled by the attack, wild life activists had hoped for a tougher punishment.

Australian Society for Kangaroos spokeswoman Fiona Corke told Seven News outside court: "It's absolutely sickening that three men could do this to a poor defenceless little joey."