'No evidence of struggle': Internet sleuths baffled by decapitated wallaby at abandoned house
HOBART, AUSTRALIA: Concerns were expressed by both locals and online sleuths in response to a photo reportedly taken of a decapitated wallaby inside an empty property south of Hobart.
In response to the image posted on Reddit this week, some users believed that most predators would have eaten the head and that the remains appeared too clean to be from an animal assault. Another user speculated that people might be to blame, saying that some "two-legged ferals" might find "ripping a head off would be right up (the) alley".
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Numerous animals have been found dead at the location before
The wallaby was discovered in Margate, which is only about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the location where numerous mutilated and dead animals have been discovered before. On February 5, a wallaby head was spiked and elevated in a tree, and on February 27, one was decapitated at a nearby location of the most recent one.
A big dog might have killed the wallaby
Although there is no evidence linking the discoveries or suggesting that the killings were planned, the discoveries have unnerved some Tasmanians. Veteran Tasmanian ecologist Nick Mooney provided a thorough analysis of the photo but noted that without studying the animal's body and surrounding environment, it would be a "struggle" to say whether it had been killed or scavenged.
He claimed that a healthy 10 kg Bennetts wallaby would typically fight when killed, leaving behind gouges and scratches as well as the fur on the ground where it was killed. He did notice small amounts of droppings nearby, which were probably from forest ravens. However, he verified that the species could not kill a wallaby or break the skin of the animal outside of thin areas inside the leg. “If pushed, an eagle can kill such wallabies and like all carnivores they are enthusiastic scavengers. Eagles often eat part of the head, the brain is very sought after,” he said.
He proposed that a big dog might have killed the wallaby because they are "very efficient" at taking down prey. “(They) can kill with a head bite but I have seen devils get lucky the same way. No doubt thylacines similarly behaved. But regardless there would be evidence of struggle.”
As per Yahoo News, the investigation and enforcement team at Tasmania's department of environment (NRE) stated that it had not gotten any reports regarding the wallaby. “Anyone with information about suspected wildlife offenses should report it to the Investigations and Enforcement Services on 0417 661 234 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Information can be provided anonymously,” a spokesperson said in a statement.