The male kangaroo was discovered lying on the side of the road in Margaret River, Western Australia, by a member of the public, ABC Australia reported.

In Australia, it is illegal to kill kangaroos without a special license. Occasionally, kangaroos may be culled to control expanding populations, but this must be done in a humane way. Kangaroos are native to Australia, with an estimated 10.9 million of them living across the country, a slight increase from the previous year.

It is not clear whether a bow or crossbow was used to shoot the kangaroo, ABC Australia said.

Australia’s Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was called to the scene. An inspector for the organization, Genna Haines, told ABC Australia that the kangaroo’s condition was so bad there was no choice but to euthanize. One of the arrows was shot through the animal’s arm, while the other was lodged in its leg.

Haines told Newsweek in a statement: “This was clearly an intentional act and it’s sickening to think how this poor kangaroo would have suffered. Native animals have a right to protection from pain and distress, and we should all be working to foster respect and appreciation for them.”

Haines told ABC Australia that the kangaroo was known in the area and local people would be upset because they used to see the kangaroo frequently along Wise Road.

“Somebody has intentionally targeted and shot this kangaroo in a really cruel way,” she said. Haines added that the kangaroo had become used to people, although it did not display aggressive behavior.

“It had been humanized at some point,” Haines told ABC Australia. “[This kangaroo] was quite friendly … Given its size and the fact it is a male, I imagine it’s not somebody’s pet, though.”

Kangaroos can occasionally become a nuisance if they live in populated areas. Although they rarely pose a threat to people, the herbivorous animal will eat anything from flowers to vegetables grown in gardens.

In Western Australia, all native wildlife is protected under the 1950 Wildlife Conservation Act. If a violator is caught, the person could face a fine of up to $50,000 as well as jail time, under the Animal Welfare Act.

Local police said they would help the RSPCA investigate the incident.

Update 09/21/22 ET 6:15 a.m: This article has been updated to add a statement from RSPCA Australia’s Genna Haines.