100+ Cockatoos found dead ‘a mystery’ in Victoria, Australia

MORE than 100 Sulphur-crested cockatoos have been found dead in Victoria’s north-east, sparking an investigation.

 

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning says the birds’ bodies were collected by wildlife officers near the Tatong township, close to Benalla, on Thursday.

 

A number of the birds — from a protected species — will be tested in hopes of determining their cause of death.

 

The department has also appealed for public information and warned Tatong residents they may come across even more dead birds over the Australia Day long weekend.

 

“It’s highly likely that the number of birds impacted by this incident will increase over the coming days,” the department’s Greg Chant said. Anyone found to have hunted, taken or destroyed protected wildlife can face “significant penalties”, including jail time, he added.

 

“Illegally destroying protected native wildlife is a serious environmental crime,” Mr Chant said.

Courtesy of news.com.au

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