Gruesome discovery of protected penguins found killed and injured near a nesting colony leads to charges against three youths
- Penguins attacked Burnie
- Three teenagers are charged
- A penguin has had surgery
Three Tasmanian teenagers have been charged with killing and injuring little penguins in the state’s northwest.
Following an appeal to the public, police identified the youths allegedly involved in the March 12 incident in Burnie.
The teens led officers to a location on Burnie West Beach where a dead penguin was found.
Another penguin, who was rescued by a member of the public, underwent surgery for his injuries.
Police have charged the three, aged between 12 and 15, with animal cruelty, including mutilating and killing a protected species.
Following an appeal to the public, police identified the youths allegedly involved in the March 12 incident in Burnie (photo, a stock image)
The teens led officers to a location on Burnie West Beach where a dead penguin was found (pictured, Burnie in northwestern Tasmania)
Police charged the three youths aged 12 to 15 with animal cruelty, including mutilating and killing a protected species
“Police would like to thank community members who have come forward and provided crucial information leading to the identification of these youths,” the authorities said in a statement.
They fall under the provisions of the Youth Law Act.
“Police would like to thank the community members who have come forward and provided crucial information leading to the identification of these youths,” the authorities said in a statement.
Burnie’s waterfront is home to colonies of the penguin species, with twilight migrations between October and March when the birds return from foraging at sea.
In 2018, a man was sentenced to 49 hours of community service for clubbing six little penguins to death in nearby Sulfur Creek.
The Burnie waterfront is home to colonies of the penguin species, with twilight migrations between October and March when the birds return from foraging at sea