Tibbie_tabbie Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 A friend of mine who lives in a suburban area has found some of the local ducks dead and decapitated. Two black swans are also missing. I told her to call the RSPCA, but she was told nothing they could do as wild animals?! Is there anyone she can report this to? Police arent interested either Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Swans do fly ..maybe they were disturbed and have moved on to escape . dogs/foxes/cats/humans will kill ducks ..if they are native wildlife on a creek or something , there's not much can be done if the authorities are no interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mita Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 (edited) Is your friend in Q'ld? If so there's a law which would apply.... with penalties. I'm assuming they're native ducks??? Hunting or killing birds In Queensland, all native animals including reptiles, amphibians, mammals, marsupials and birds are protected. They cannot be harmed or injured in any way, including trapping them, or stealing their eggs or disturbing their nests. Refer to the Queensland legislation, Nature Conservation Act 1992 (PDF, 913 KB). Or is your friend in WA? Maybe there's a similar law under a particular Gov Dpt? Your friend could also tip off the media. Edited June 28, 2013 by mita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 What proof is there of human involvement ? How many ducks are being found? I have seen feral cats decapitate chooks to drink the blood .... An attack by a falcon can also behead a duck .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyosha Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Foxes kill poultry by decapitation - even swans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosetta Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 People have been prosecuted in Qld for injuring/killing wildlife. I am sure other States would have similar laws. Perhaps she could contact the Dept of Environment in her State. I find it unbelievable the RSPCA were not willing to investigate and were not even interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minimax Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 People have been prosecuted in Qld for injuring/killing wildlife. I am sure other States would have similar laws. Perhaps she could contact the Dept of Environment in her State. I find it unbelievable the RSPCA were not willing to investigate and were not even interested. Probably because there is no proof of human involvement? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tibbie_tabbie Posted June 28, 2013 Author Share Posted June 28, 2013 Pers - the heads were cleanly cut off and the bodies put somewhere an animal couldn't (don't want to put too much detail in case it causes upset) I know the swans may have fled but isn't that sad in itself - wildlife being scared away from their habitat? Thanks Mita, I'll have a look and see what I can find out. It's horrible, the pond is next to a play area and this has upset a lot of the locals as it's usually a lovely area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mita Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 (edited) Thanks Mita, I'll have a look and see what I can find out. It's horrible, the pond is next to a play area and this has upset a lot of the locals as it's usually a lovely area. Legislation in WA.... if they're native ducks. Find the government dpt which oversees this legislation. Always helps to quote it. Also locals might consider going to the media. Western Australia The Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 provides for the conservation and protection of wildlife. The use, protection and management of certain public lands, waters, flora and fauna is dealt with by the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984. I don't know what the legislation actually says in WA, but maybe, RSPCA isn't referred to as having responsibilities for wildlife. In Q'ld law it is. Edited June 28, 2013 by mita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosetta Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Pers - the heads were cleanly cut off and the bodies put somewhere an animal couldn't (don't want to put too much detail in case it causes upset) I know the swans may have fled but isn't that sad in itself - wildlife being scared away from their habitat? Thanks Mita, I'll have a look and see what I can find out. It's horrible, the pond is next to a play area and this has upset a lot of the locals as it's usually a lovely area. Well....that seems pretty indicative of human involvement! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_PL_ Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 All natives are protected unless a permit to cull is issued AFAIK. Swan deaths happened near here in a large park with reclaimed natural areas, specifically so the wildlife would return. However there were witnesses to a man encouraging his dogs to attack. If the council rangers and police aren't interested (which just sounds lazy IMHO) you're going to have to take it to the Parks & Wildlife dept, and local media to get community momentum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tibbie_tabbie Posted June 28, 2013 Author Share Posted June 28, 2013 Yep Sick people. Thankfully a neighbour warned by friend before her little girl saw it. Her neighbourhood association has taken photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mita Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 (edited) WA's Wildlife Conservation Act specifically says (native) ducks are protected. http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/wa/consol_act/wca1950236/ And here's what Wildlife Officers employed by the WA government dpt which oversees that Conservation Act...do: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/wa/consol_act/wca1950236/s20.html Edited June 28, 2013 by mita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSoSwift Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 If they are native animals go to the Dept of conservation - or whatever they are called these days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 I f they are native animals go to the Dept of conservation yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCresties Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 I told her to call the RSPCA, but she was told nothing they could do as wild animals?! Not true - when we reported someone on suspicion of shooting Corellas out of a tree, they RSPCA were out to see him first thing the next morning, and the police as well as he was discharging a firearm in a public place Hope someone at least investigates this for your friend Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyosha Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Pers - the heads were cleanly cut off and the bodies put somewhere an animal couldn't (don't want to put too much detail in case it causes upset) Are they sure? I'm not meaning any disrespect at all. But wild birds are not that easy to get close to - and unless they have been shot or brought down somehow first it would be hard for anyone to decapitate them. I have attended sites where people have been convinced that wild waterfowl have been killed by person/s cutting their heads off, and have confirmed each time that it was predation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minimax Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Pers - the heads were cleanly cut off and the bodies put somewhere an animal couldn't (don't want to put too much detail in case it causes upset) Are they sure? I'm not meaning any disrespect at all. But wild birds are not that easy to get close to - and unless they have been shot or brought down somehow first it would be hard for anyone to decapitate them. I have attended sites where people have been convinced that wild waterfowl have been killed by person/s cutting their heads off, and have confirmed each time that it was predation. Would an animal only remove the head though, and not consume or attempt to consume some of the body? Another thought would be an animal removing the head/killing it and someone coming along and finding the body, and moving it off the path, or moving it somewhere more discreet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyosha Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Yes foxes remove only the head all the time. They will drink the blood and that's it. Sometimes the head is found and sometimes not. Grisly... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tibbie_tabbie Posted June 28, 2013 Author Share Posted June 28, 2013 Pers - the heads were cleanly cut off and the bodies put somewhere an animal couldn't (don't want to put too much detail in case it causes upset) Are they sure? I'm not meaning any disrespect at all. But wild birds are not that easy to get close to - and unless they have been shot or brought down somehow first it would be hard for anyone to decapitate them. I have attended sites where people have been convinced that wild waterfowl have been killed by person/s cutting their heads off, and have confirmed each time that it was predation. I've asked this, no way could someone catch that many otherwise. Will post an update when I get one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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