Police arrest second man after half a dozen newborn calves were allegedly mowed down by a 4WD at WA cattle farm
A second man has been charged after a herd of calves in a pasture was allegedly knocked over by an SUV.
Police say a Toyota Prado drove into a cattle station in Howatharra, north of Geraldton in Western Australia’s mid-west, in the early hours of August 20 and attempted to run over the three-month-old calves.
Five days later, farmers Calvin and Karen Royce stumbled upon the gruesome find on their land.
It is not known how many calves were killed in the incident, but police believe at least eight were injured. One calf had to be euthanized.
Detectives from the Financial Crime Squad arrested a 22-year-old man from Glenfield, south of Howatharra, on Thursday.
He was charged with criminal damage to property and animal cruelty.
He remains in custody but will appear in Carnarvon District Court later on Thursday.
The incident comes a week after police arrested a 21-year-old man accused of driving the Toyota and deliberately running over the newborn calves.
A second man has been charged after a 4WD allegedly ran over a number of three-month-old calves on a Howatharra cattle farm last month. Tyre tracks can be seen on the property in the photo
The 21-year-old man will appear in Geraldton court again on September 18, on the same charges as the Glenfield man.
Detective Chief Inspector Peter Foley confirmed last week that police were aware of disturbing footage of the incident.
“We are aware of a video circulating online showing what can only be described as an appalling act of animal cruelty,” Dewt Supt Foley said in a statement.
‘It is a confronting view and we take these types of incidents extremely seriously.
‘Animal abuse has no place in our society and will not be tolerated by the Western Australian Police Service.’
Previously, the Royces allowed the public access to the property to reach the mouth of the Oakajee River.
At least eight calves (stock photo) were injured in the incident, one of which was euthanized after suffering a suspected broken back
The farmers have now closed off access and plan to increase camera surveillance and security following the incident.
Mr. Royce told the ABC were alerted that a calf was ‘sick’, but found ‘bits and pieces’ of animals scattered across the pasture.
According to them, about ten calves were killed or dismembered in the incident. One calf probably suffered a broken back and had to be euthanized.
“They’re not afraid of cars at all. There are animals that are sleeping and suddenly sit up and look at the headlights while they’re (allegedly) being mowed down,” Royce said.