SYDNEY (AP) – Australian wildlife officials offered a reward Tuesday for information on the ``horrific'' shooting of two kangaroos with a crossbow.

The animals survived but both had to be tranquilized and were undergoing a painful recovery at a shelter in Victoria state, said Fiona Corke, spokeswoman for the non-profit animal rescue group Wildlife Victoria.

One was shot through the head, the other in its rump.

``Hopefully we'll be able to catch these people who have done these horrific things,'' Corke said. ``To do that to any animal in the first place is one thing, but to leave it there suffering is another. Both kangaroos would have suffered incredibly.''

A 20-month-old female kangaroo was found Thursday in public parklands, and veterinarians estimated it had been limping around with the arrow in its rump for a week. Corke said the animal's recovery was still ``touch and go'' on Tuesday.

The other kangaroo, a 2-year-old male, was found in the same area on Saturday, with a 3-foot (one meter) arrow sticking out of its face.

Veterinarians believe the arrow had been there for about 24 hours, but the creature was expected to make a full recovery.

Witnesses reported seeing two men lurking in the park with a crossbow over the past week, Corke said.

Wildlife Victoria was offering a reward of 10,000 Australian dollars ($7,600) for any information leading to the conviction of the shooter.