Men charged over dead possums and koalas

A routine police check on a car in South Australia has unearthed a surprising and grisly find: 14 dead possums, three dead koalas as well as a number of slingshots.

Police said the vehicle was stopped on Sunday afternoon in Mt Gambier.

Three Mt Gambier men, two aged 31 and one 32, and a 23-year-old Victorian man have been charged with possession of dangerous articles and the unlawful possession of native wildlife.

They were granted bail and are expected to appear in the Mt Gambier Magistrates Court on April 1.

Under the National Parks and Wildlife Act (1972) the illegal possession of a carcass of a native animal which has been illegally taken or acquired carries a maximum penalty of a fine of $2500 or six months jail.