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Man fined $15,000 for shooting 19 lorikeets

WARNING – DISTRESSING CONTENT: A Victorian man has been convicted and fined more than $15,000 for shooting 19 rainbow lorikeets he claimed were destroying his fruit trees.

The Red Hill man was convicted and fined more than $15,000 in Dromana Magistrates Court last week for shooting the birds and verbally abusing wildlife officers.

The man’s gun licence has also been cancelled.

At the time of shooting, the man did not hold an authority to control wildlife, making his actions illegal.

The man said the birds were eating crops on his property. Source: Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
The man said the birds were eating crops on his property. Source: Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

The state environment department was told the man was shooting protected native birds on his property, and on arrival, officers found 19 dead rainbow lorikeets in the back of his ute.

Wildlife officer Haley Mason hailed the outcome.

“This is a great result and highlights to the public that killing native wildlife is a serious offence,” she said.

It’s illegal to destroy or interfere with wildlife in Victoria. The maximum penalty ranges from $8059 to $38,685 and can result in six to 24 months’ jail.

Last month, a man in the UK was handed a 12-week curfew after he killed a seagull when it stole his chips.

People can report wildlife crime confidentially to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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