Several dead kangaroos were found piled in a heap, with empty alcohol cans in their pouches, in the Rollands Plains area, about 40km north-west of Port Macquarie.

National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Macleay area manager Andrew Winter said gun shots were heard for several hours and the kangaroo carcasses were later found dumped.

“In a final insult, the carcasses were piled in plain sight for people to see,” he said.

Mr Winter said the act was a senseless one and stuffing the kangaroos’ pouches with alcohol cans was almost like desecration.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service has renewed its appeal for information in a bid to catch the culprits about a month after the kangaroos’ slaughter.

Mr Winter said random acts of cruelty on our native wildlife happened periodically. This, said, was “disappointing”.

The National Parks and Wildlife Act prohibits people from harming or endangering wildlife.

People can apply for a licence to destroy wildlife under certain circumstances including if native animals are damaging crops.

North Coast Environment Council secretary John Jeayes said the revelation of the kangaroo slaughter at Rollands Plains and the atrocity of piling up the bodies and shoving beer cans into the females’ pouches was disgusting.

“One wonders what happened to any young joeys going through this cruel experience and the mindset of the perpetrators,” he said

“I hope the police are carrying out extensive investigations into this despicable act to consider whether these people should be allowed to hold a firearms licence to go around drinking beer and shooting things,” he said.