Woman charged with poisoning 128 Wedge-tailed Eagles
An Australian woman lhas been charged with over 300 animal cruelty charges after the carcasses of 140 protected birds, including 128 Wedge-tailed Eagles, at her property.
The discovery was made at her property in Violet Town in the state of Victoria after a number of dead Wedge-tailed Eagles were found in the area.
She has been charged with 291 breaches of the Wildlife Act 1975 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986, including offences relating to poisoning the birds of prey.
The woman will face court in Benalla next year. The maximum penalty for killing native birds or being in possession of them without a licence carries hefty fines or penalties of up to two years in jail.
Chief conservation regulator Kate Gavens said: Wedge-tailed eagles are Victoria’s largest bird of prey and an important part of our environment. This investigation shows the conservation regulator’s commitment to combating wildlife crime and protecting the iconic wedge-tailed eagle.”
Wedge-tailed Eagles are regular victims of targeted persecution as they are seen as a pest by farmers who believe they prey on lambs. Government scientists say they rarely take healthy lambs and are not known to have taken full-grown sheep.
17 Dec 2020
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