Pademelons are small marsupials that resemble kangaroos. Five of the animals were carrying joeys -- newborns being suckled in the mother's pouch -- and four of the joeys had to be euthanized because they were too young to survive brought up by hand, The Australian reported.

Employees found the dead animals Thursday morning.

The Johnstone River Crocodile Farm near Innisfail in Queensland is a tourist attraction that also operates a cassowary breeding program.

"It's just a cowardly thing to do," said Paul Harris, the manager of the farm. "They are domesticated animals in pens, it's not a sporting thing to do.''

The farm may have suffered vandalism Sunday as well. Six small crocodiles escaped from a pond that had flooded.

Farm employees said they believe someone tampered with the water tap. All the crocodiles were recaptured.