The senseless attack took place a fortnight ago and police yesterday called on the public to come forward with information.

The male brushtail possum had become an icon in the park, with many families and young children feeding it pieces of fruit.

It’s alleged a group of people caught the possum near the chess tables (near Court House Lane) about midday on November 18 and set it alight.

A member of the NSW Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service (WIRES) and a Bathurst Regional Council ranger found the injured animal which was taken to the nearby Stewart Street Veterinary Hospital.

The animal’s injuries were deemed to be too severe and the possum had to be put down.

Christine Konig was the senior veterinarian who treated the injured animal and said she felt absolutely terrible having to euthanase the animal.

“The possum had a big burn from his cheek and down his neck and it had started to welt,” she said.

“If it was a family pet we could have treated the injuries but because it was a wild animal we couldn’t get enough access to the injury to properly treat it.

“It was then decided it would have been more cruel to keep the possum alive and so it was put down.”

Ms Konig said as a person who professionally treats sick and injured animals, she could not believe some people could behave so senselessly toward wildlife.

“All my energy goes into fixing animals who have been hurt, so for someone to do this makes me very angry,” she said.

“It is very frustrating and so senseless.”

Robert Wootton from Bathurst Regional Council said once possums establish a home they are usually likely to stay there.

He said it was quite likely the dead possum was the same one photographed last November when a number of rotten trees were removed from the park.

“Possums are very territorial once they camp some where they usually stay put,” he said.