Melbourne Zoo Veterinarian Dr Michael Lynch performed surgery late on Saturday to remove an arrow that had pierced through the nasal cavity of an Eastern Grey Kangaroo.

Dr Lynch treated the injured animal at the request of wildlife carers who had brought him in from Bundoora.

Dr Lynch removed the arrow, cleaned the wound, sutured the tissues and skin, and treated the kangaroo with antibiotics.

He says that ‘I'm cautiously optimistic about the kangaroo's prospects for a full recovery.

‘Because the arrow penetrated through the bone and into the nasal cavity, there is a potential for infection.

‘I want to have a follow up X-ray in about three weeks to ensure that the cleanup and the medication have been effective.

‘This was a big injury, but because the arrow didn't seem to have been in there for a long time, and the injury was fresh, hopefully we're OK.'

Wildlife carers are monitoring the recovery of the kangaroo, and they will administer the course of antibiotics prescribed by Dr Lynch.