Man charged over disturbing video of kangaroo's throat being slashed

A man has been arrested at a home in Melbourne’s east after horrific video emerged of a kangaroo’s neck being slashed at least 18 times.

The video, which was posted to a mobile phone chat app, allegedly shows a 43-year-old man approach the injured animal while brandishing a knife, before he pins it down with his leg.

In a last effort to escape, the kangaroo grunts and the man quickly backs off and laughs.

He then allegedly pins the kangaroo down again and begins slashing its neck.

The kangaroo then goes limp and appears lifeless.

Officers from the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning (DEWLP) arrested the man last night at a home in Ringwood.

He was charged with one count of destroying protected wildlife.

The officers allegedly seized firearms, knives and mobile phones from the home.

"We take all alleged cases of animal cruelty very seriously," DELWP Compliance Operations Manager Glenn Sharp said in a statement.

"The wildlife offences captured in this video are particularly abhorrent.

"We'd like to thank members of the public who came forward with information about the alleged offences and enabled us to act quickly in response."

The man could face a fine between $7928 to $38,056 and six to 24 months in jail.