Wildlife carer in state of shock after native animal 'brutally hacked'
The wildlife rescuer was 'absolutely disgusted' that a human being could inflict so much pain and torture on an innocent, defenceless magpie.
WARNING — DISTURBING CONTENT: An Aussie wildlife carer was in a state of shock after coming across a magpie that had been mutilated, having had both its tail and beak "brutally hacked off".
Krystie Severie, a volunteer with Rescue Rehabilitate Release, said she found the injured animal, a female, earlier this month on September 13, "hopping around someone's backyard" who had found the bird and tried to contain it before help arrived.
When she walked into the home in Reservoir, Melbourne, Ms Severie said she was completely gobsmacked by the state of the bird.
"They let me in the back gate and then yeah, I saw the bird running around, because of the short feathers it couldn't fly," Ms Severie told Yahoo News Australia. "I said 'oh, I think it's a fledgling' — but then I got a closer look and just went 'oh my god, that bird's wings have been hacked.
"It was it was awful. Just to see the extent of the damage and the brutality in it."
Volunteer 'absolutely disgusted'
Ms Severie said the sight was so shocking she felt "absolutely disgusted" that a human being could inflict so much pain and torture on an innocent, defenceless magpie — which are protected under Australian law.
"I actually even said to the member of public because they asked me, 'who would do this type of thing? And I'll admit, I said 'someone with a f**ked up head', because that's not normal."
Thanks to the efforts of Ms Severie and fellow volunteers, the injured magpie — believed to be an adult — is doing "really, really well".
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"God only knows how long the poor thing was left like that before she was found," Ms Severie said. "She's with a fully licensed carer in rehabilitation to try and help her to get those wings to grow back. And then she'll eventually be released. The wings will grow back, but the beak won't. The tail will take about two years.
"She's doing really, really well. They've got her on a perch and stuff that she can get to. She's mingling with the other magpies that are in care. She's a lot calmer now, she's being cared for perfectly."
Ms Severie said she notified Victoria's relevant wildlife departments. Yahoo has also raised the issue with the Office of the Conservation Regulator, at the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEEC).
Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, the Australian Wildlife Society vehemently condemned the shocking act of cruelty.
"This is absolutely horrific!" a spokesperson said. "It makes us sick to our stomach that someone would think it is okay to treat a sentient animal/native species like this. We found it extremely difficult to read this post.
"Magpies are a protected species by law nationally, and it is against the law to harm or kill these birds or their young. Penalties for animal cruelty offences vary in each jurisdiction, but all have provisions for jail terms and fines.
"If people find an injured bird, they are encouraged to contact their local wildlife rescue group, which will be able to attend to the animal."
The Australian Wildlife Society collated a list of wildlife emergency contacts across the states and territories which Aussies can find here.
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