Aussie driver slammed for 'despicable act' after grisly roadside find
Aussie motorists could increase the likelihood of saving an injured animal by doing this one thing.
A wildlife rescuer has written a scathing social media post to remind Aussie drivers of the "simple solution" to the "all too common" issue facing our native wildlife.
On Sunday Kerstin Schweth desperately attempted to rescue a wombat which lay by the side of the road "bleeding and heavily breathing" after being hit by a car in Robertson, situated in the NSW Southern Highlands.
"Someone hit it and didn't check on the poor thing ... It was in such a bad state. It's heartbreaking," Kerstin told Yahoo News Australia.
Despite her best efforts to save the wombat, Kerstin confirmed she had to euthanise it after the animal had lay "in agony for hours", condemning the driver for their "appalling" decision to do nothing when they hit the animal.
How can motorists aid injured animals?
By simply stopping and contacting a local wildlife group, the motorist will increase the likelihood of the animal's survival, with time being of the essence in these situations.
"The sooner we get to them the better it is ... If you do hit something, check if it is still alive, or if it has a joey in the pouch."
Over 10 million animals are hit on Australian roads every year, however Kerstin believes this figure could be drastically reduced if motorists stop after an incident.
"If motorists report the crash maybe the mother can be saved, or at least she could be taken out of her misery and the baby can be saved."
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Kerstin said the worst thing a motorist can do is to simply drive on as if nothing had happened, believing there are several reasons why motorists do this.
"People couldn't care less, or maybe someone saw what happened and then just drove off in shock," she said. "It is a despicable act colliding with an animal and leaving it there without rendering assistance."
The International Fund Animal Welfare (IFAW) app is a tool which can be used by motorists around the country who find themselves accidentally hitting an animal, helping to pinpoint which wildlife groups operate in the area where the incident took place.
"Just use your common sense," Kerstin said.
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