Melbourne man convicted for “heinous” wildlife cruelty

A 38-year-old man has been convicted, sentenced to an 18-month Community Correction Order, and banned from keeping animals for 10 years after he pleaded guilty to 16 animal cruelty offences for failing to provide food, water, and/or shelter to the wildlife in his care and causing the death or euthanasia of three pythons and two possums from prolonged starvation or dehydration at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday 7 June.

He admitted to neglecting 28 native animals, including green tree frogs, barn owls, sugar gliders, brushtail possums, dingoes, pythons, a blue-tongued lizard, and a freshwater crocodile, by keeping them in poor enclosures with no food or water.

He also pleaded guilty to two charges for illegally possessing two dingoes, two barn owls, and the remains of a third barn owl.

In sentencing last week, Presiding Magistrate Howe said the man had committed “horrific offending against native animals that had no way to protect themselves”.

“You knew the licensing requirements and the importance of meeting basic care standards,” Her Honour said and “as a direct result of your cruelty, animals suffered an unnecessarily prolonged and cruel death.”

The conditions of the man’s Community Correction Order include that he must undertake mental health treatment and rehabilitation programs as directed by Corrections Victoria, complete 100 hours of unpaid community work, and he cannot leave Victoria without permission. Any reoffending or breaches of this Order could result in imprisonment.

Conservation Regulator Authorised Officers investigated after receiving anonymous reports of wildlife welfare and licencing concerns, and executed a search warrant in March 2021 at the man’s home to ensure he was complying with his Commercial Wildlife Licence.

On inspection, they found dozens of animals confined to small, filthy cages and in poor health due to starvation or illness, including some that were so emaciated officers initially thought they were dead, and two dingos in a backyard cage had no shelter from the elements, such as a kennel or covered area.

Authorised Officers also discovered a barn owl housed in a pet carrier, which Adam Lee, Acting Life Science Manager at Melbourne Zoo, described as “deplorable”, and causing “severe welfare issues in every respect”.

During initial interviews, the man stated he couldn’t remember when he last checked on or gave water to many of the animals.

The Conservation Regulator cancelled the man’s Wildlife Demonstrator Licence in 2021.

The community is encouraged to report wildlife crime and suspected illegal possession to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.