But last week, instead of seeing the animals bounding through the paddocks, Mr Moll discovered nine carcasses.

He said nine of the 12 kangaroos had been shot, with their hind legs removed. 

“It’s like seeing your pet dog shot on your front doorstep,” he said.

“They weren’t doing any harm. They had crumpled a bit of crop and knocked over a few gates, but what’s happened ... it’s just really unnecessary.

“They used to stand there and you could get reasonably close. There was only 12 – it’s not as if they were in plague proportions.”

Mr Moll said the kangaroos lived on East Winiam Flora Reserve, south of Nhill.

The reserve neighbours his property. 

He said he was furious someone had shot and butchered the animals on his land.

“They were left lying where they were shot,” he said.

“I’m really, really angry. To see them slaughtered for a bit of meat is a bit disappointing.”

Mr Moll said only two kangaroos remained alive in the reserve and they had become anti-social. 

Nhill police said they were investigating the report and could verify at least one kangaroo was shot on the property. 

Sergeant Jim Lee said inquiries were ongoing.

He reminded people hunting wildlife without a permit that shooting over a property and shooting from a vehicle were punishable offences. 

The Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning also also investigating the kangaroos found on Mr Moll’s property and potential breaches of the Wildlife Act 1975.

The department said the perpetrator or perpetrators could face fines and jail time for breaching the Act by unlawfully taking wildlife, hunting or destroying protected wildlife.

People who unlawfully removed wildlife can face fines of up to $37,310.40 or 24 months in jail.

Breaching restrictions on hunting, taking or destroying protected wildlife incurs fines up to $7773 or six months’ jail while acquiring protected wildlife incurs a penalty of $7773 and or six months’ jail.