These Heartbreaking Photos Show A Mother Kangaroo That Survived Being Shot Through The Head

The fully grown female was also carrying an infant joey. This post has graphic images.

A mother kangaroo has undergone surgery and miraculously survived after being shot through the head with an arrow.

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Australia Zoo / PR IMAGE

The kangaroo was captured near Toorbul, just north of Brisbane, Queensland, after evading a rescue team for four days.

The fully grown female, who was also carrying an infant joey, was shot just above the eye.

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Australia Zoo / PR Image

In a statement, Australia Zoo described how close the wound was to being fatal.

"The arrow came extremely close to the kangaroo's skull and brain... It actually grazed the skull and came millimetres from her eye socket and optical nerves."

The arrow is believed to have come from a hunter, with Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals spokesperson Michael Beatty telling ABC News that this wasn't an isolated case.

Australia Zoo / PR IMAGE

"Obviously we'd like to find out who did it," he said. "There's too many of these things go on. How this kangaroo survived this is extraordinary."

The mother 'roo is now recovering and is likely to be released back into its Toorbul, Queensland, habitat when she gets back to full health.

Australia Zoo / PR IMAGE

"The successful surgery and fast release back to the bush is the best case scenario for this kangaroo and joey who will hopefully rejoin their mob soon," said Australia Zoo in a statement.