Queensland Man Punished for Disturbing Native Bird Sanctuary
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Disclaimer: This article mentions alleged animal abuse. Reader discretion is advised.
As responsible citizens, it's a given that we should treat our wildlife with respect. But recently, a man from Queensland failed to abide by this principle and was caught in the act.
A bystander reportedly witnessed a man from Queensland driving over a nest full of plover chicks, seemingly intent on destroying it.
The heartbreaking scene was filmed and sent to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), and after a joint investigation with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, the man was fined $718 for his cruelty.
This pales in comparison to the maximum court-imposed penalty for killing a protected animal under Queensland’s Nature Conservation Act of 1992, which is a whopping $14,375!
According to Compliance Officer Warren Christensen, the man claimed his reasoning was for 'development reasons'.
‘As he is driving over the nest, the parents of the chicks were squawking and flapping their wings in a futile attempt to prevent it.’
‘The actions of the man are disturbing, and it is extremely cruel to target defenceless hatchlings or chicks that were about to hatch,' he added.
In Australia, it's illegal to tamper with a breeding place that a protected animal is using to incubate or raise offspring.
‘People are reminded that birds will begin nesting as spring approaches, and plovers and other ground-dwelling birds will be setting up their nests,’ Mr Christensen said.
He added: ‘If wildlife animals are potentially causing harm by swooping, people should call a licenced wildlife removal and relocation service and not take matters into their own hands.’
Masked lapwing plovers are common in Australia and are identifiable by a large wattle covering their beak and a thorned yellow spurs that project from their wings. Plovers are usually non-aggressive, so it is completely safe to let them go about their business.
If nests are causing an inconvenience–because they may be located in an area with heavy foot traffic–we recommend calling a licenced wildlife service and keeping alert for any signs of nesting near your home.
If you are from Queensland and looking for an organisation that offers such a service, you can check out Critter Catchers website for more information.
RSPCA spokesperson Emma Lagoon summed it up best: 'While we are pleased that there has been a consequence to this callous behaviour, the community will not tolerate these acts of animal cruelty!’
Interested in reading more about animal safety? Here’s another story on a popular grocery item that’s unknowingly hurting Australian wildlife.
Let's protect our precious wildlife–both from those who may harm them and from any environmental factors that could cause them distress.
Do plovers nest in your local area? Share a photo or a story with us in the comments below!
As responsible citizens, it's a given that we should treat our wildlife with respect. But recently, a man from Queensland failed to abide by this principle and was caught in the act.
A bystander reportedly witnessed a man from Queensland driving over a nest full of plover chicks, seemingly intent on destroying it.
The heartbreaking scene was filmed and sent to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), and after a joint investigation with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, the man was fined $718 for his cruelty.
A man was fined $718 for driving over a nest full of plover chicks. Image source: Flickr.
This pales in comparison to the maximum court-imposed penalty for killing a protected animal under Queensland’s Nature Conservation Act of 1992, which is a whopping $14,375!
According to Compliance Officer Warren Christensen, the man claimed his reasoning was for 'development reasons'.
‘As he is driving over the nest, the parents of the chicks were squawking and flapping their wings in a futile attempt to prevent it.’
‘The actions of the man are disturbing, and it is extremely cruel to target defenceless hatchlings or chicks that were about to hatch,' he added.
In Australia, it's illegal to tamper with a breeding place that a protected animal is using to incubate or raise offspring.
‘People are reminded that birds will begin nesting as spring approaches, and plovers and other ground-dwelling birds will be setting up their nests,’ Mr Christensen said.
He added: ‘If wildlife animals are potentially causing harm by swooping, people should call a licenced wildlife removal and relocation service and not take matters into their own hands.’
Masked lapwing plovers are common in Australia and are identifiable by a large wattle covering their beak and a thorned yellow spurs that project from their wings. Plovers are usually non-aggressive, so it is completely safe to let them go about their business.
If nests are causing an inconvenience–because they may be located in an area with heavy foot traffic–we recommend calling a licenced wildlife service and keeping alert for any signs of nesting near your home.
If you are from Queensland and looking for an organisation that offers such a service, you can check out Critter Catchers website for more information.
RSPCA spokesperson Emma Lagoon summed it up best: 'While we are pleased that there has been a consequence to this callous behaviour, the community will not tolerate these acts of animal cruelty!’
Interested in reading more about animal safety? Here’s another story on a popular grocery item that’s unknowingly hurting Australian wildlife.
Do plovers nest in your local area? Share a photo or a story with us in the comments below!
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