Disturbing find in laundry freezer at Victorian farm
WARNING DISTRESSING CONTENT: Frozen kangaroo joeys and native birds, along with the remains of 76 wedge-tailed eagles, have been seized from a property in northern Victoria.
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) officers searched the farm near Violet Town on Tuesday after being alerted to dead birds nearby.
“We executed a search warrant on the property after a number of wedge-tailed eagles were found on the vicinity,” Greg Chant from DELWP told Yahoo News Australia.
“Of the eagles we did originally test, it did indicate they had died of poisoning.”
Mr Chant said that during the follow-up search, officers found the remains of 120 birds, mostly raptors, in varying states of decay, along with at least two joeys in the laundry freezer.
He said the property is roughly 1000 acres and farms sheep, cattle and crops.
“The dead birds were found scattered across various paddocks,” Mr Chant said.
‘Cultural problem’
Wildlife Victoria CEO Dr Megan Davidson told Yahoo News Australia she believes there is a cultural issue in parts of regional Victoria.
“We hear whispers from time to time, but this kind of behaviour in the country is not uncommon,” she said.
“There seems to be a cultural problem in the country where native animals are not respected and treated in the most abominably cruel manner.
“The community needs to step up and speak up when these issues are being discussed in the pub and say that it’s not okay.”
While no charges have been laid, Mr Chant has urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, download the Yahoo News app from iTunes or Google Play and stay up to date with the latest news with Yahoo’s daily newsletter. Sign up here.
