Sydney, Dec 23 (NationPress) An Australian individual has been detained and charged with animal cruelty offenses after 98 kangaroos were discovered deceased north of Sydney.

Authorities located the dead kangaroos on federally owned land in the town of Singleton, situated approximately 140 km north of Sydney in the eastern state of New South Wales (NSW), along with ammunition and two cartridges on October 8, according to reports from Xinhua news agency.

In a statement released on Monday, NSW Police indicated that a 43-year-old individual has been charged with six offenses related to the incident following an investigation.

The individual was apprehended during a search operation at a property in Williamtown, nearly 70 km east of Singleton, on Friday.

During the execution of a search warrant, NSW Police stated that officers discovered and confiscated three firearms. Several other firearms were also seized from a second location in the region.

The individual faces six charges, including: committing an act of aggravated cruelty against an animal, discharging a firearm in a Commonwealth prohibited area, trespassing on Commonwealth land, failing to safely store a firearm (not being a pistol or prohibited firearm), causing harm or attempting to harm a protected animal, and not having approved storage as a holder of a Category A or B license.

“Police have since confiscated multiple firearms from a second property in the Hunter region. A Firearms Suspension Notice has been issued.

The individual has been granted strict conditional bail to appear in Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday, January 13, 2025,” stated NSW Police.

Kangaroos are regarded as protected native animals across all Australian states and territories.

Individuals found guilty of harming a protected animal in NSW face a maximum sentence of two years in prison for each offense.