25 June 2021
A Trafalgar man has been charged with animal cruelty offences for allegedly hunting dozens of native wildlife and deer using illegal hunting dogs in West and East Gippsland in Victoria.
The man faces 91 charges under the Wildlife Act 1995 and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1996, including aggravated cruelty, for allegedly killing protected Eastern Grey Kangaroos and Common Wombats, and using Mastiff-cross dogs to hunt the native species and deer.
There are over 640,000 active recreational hunters in Australia and incidents of cruelty and other illegal hunting are thankfully quite rare.
“The Conservation Regulator is committed to combatting wildlife crime and cruelty and we are taking these matters very seriously. We ask hunters to do the right thing by following the correct hunting methods and laws"
The Conservation Regulator has been investigating the man since September last year.
The man is due to face the Latrobe Magistrates Court in August.
The maximum penalty for aggravated cruelty leading to death or serious disablement of an animal is $82,610 and 2-years jail.
The maximum penalty for illegally hunting, taking or destroying protected wildlife is $8,261 and/or six months imprisonment.
If found guilty of multiple offences punishable by imprisonment, the Magistrates Court could impose a combined sentence of up to 5 years jail time.
To report wildlife crime, contact Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000.
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