Photo: DELWP
A wedge-tailed eagle is found shot and dumped in Black Range State Forest, near three other dead birds, in 2017.
He was found guilty of the death of 420 wedge-tailed eagles in East Gippsland between October 2016 and February this year, and sentenced to 14 days in jail and fined $2500.
It's understood to be the first custodial sentence for the destruction of protected wildlife handed out in Victoria.
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning has been investigating the deaths since uncovering scores of dead eagles at the Tubbut property in May…………..
………...In May, DELWP officers discovered at least 136 wedge-tailed eagles dead at a property in Tubbut, along with the carcasses of four other protected bird series.
Initial reports indicated 81 dead eagles had been found, but the department confirmed on June 12 that 136 dead eagles had been counted throughout one bushland property. The birds were believed to have been intentionally poisoned.
Authorities called it the "biggest case" they had ever seen and feared the toll could be far greater……….
Dead birds found on a property in East Gippsland in June.
Photo: DELWP
A month later, in June, four other properties in East Gippsland were raided as authorities continued the investigation.
Native animal skulls were seized when about 45 investigators from police and government agencies raided the properties.
Wedge-tailed eagles are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975.
Trust the this NZder will be duly deported post custody with “a never to re-enter Australia”
stamped in his passport.
Photo: DELWP
