Male kangaroo grieves death of mate and joey after car accident

Wildlife rescuers have captured the heart-rending moment a male kangaroo grieved the loss of his female companion and her joey after they were run over.

The female kangaroo and her six-month joey were struck by a car and left for dead in Yarra Glen, about 40km north-east of Melbourne.

Wildlife shelter volunteers Vicki Lloyd-Smith and Pam Roxon - who took the image - removed the joey from the mother's pouch but he died at a nearby shelter.

The male kangaroo is seen stroking his mate's body after she was struck by a car and left for dead 40km from Melbourne

The upsetting image shows the distressed male kangaroo stroking his mate's dead body.

Ms Lloyd-Smith and Ms Roxon captured the image to show the compassion and heartache kangaroos experience when they lose a mate and baby.

President of the Australian Society for Kangaroos, Nikki Sutterby, confirmed that the marsupials are sensitive and care greatly for their family.

'They are regularly witnessed in the wild and in care actively protecting their family, showing deep loyalty and affection and distress and grief when they die,' she told the Herald Sun.