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Man who killed 350 kookaburras ordered to pay fine

<p>A Tasmanian man who shot and killed 350 kookaburras because they were affecting his native wildlife has been fined $5,000 by a judge for not holding the appropriate firearms licence.</p> <p>Neil Gordon Whitford, 60, from Deviot, admitted in the Supreme Court in Launceston he shot the kookaburras over a nine-month period in 2021 using a semi-automatic rifle.</p> <p>The court heard Mr Whitford had held a Category A firearms licence since 1996, but he required a Category C licence for the rifle used to cull the birds.</p> <p>Justice Robert Pearce said during sentencing on Monday that Mr Whitford’s 15-acre rural property had been “invaded” by a large number of kookaburras in 2021 after bushfires close by.</p> <p>Justice Pearce said he could not take into account the number of kookaburras culled for sentencing.</p> <p>“Kookaburras are not native to Tasmania,” Justice Pearce said.</p> <p>"I'm advised that a cull is not unlawful … I'm dealing only with the firearms offences."</p> <p>Kookaburras were introduced to Tasmania in the early 1900s to control snakes.</p> <p>Although the birds are protected in most other parts of Australia, they are not in Tasmania, and according to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmnia, there is no permit required to manage them.</p> <p>In 2020, the Greens and other bird conservationists called for a Tasmanian kookaburra cull after reports the birds’ aggressive behaviour was disrupting other native species, however, that idea was rejected by the Gutwein Liberal state government.</p> <p>Justice Pearce also said the rifle Mr Whitford used was “suitable” for pest control, but he knowingly possessed it and used it without obtaining the appropriate firearms licence.</p> <p>The court was told Mr Whitford had owned the gun for decades, but rather than disposing of it when gun laws changed in 1996, he disassembled it and stored it in a gun safe until he started using it again for pest control in 2021.</p> <p>Police located the unregistered rifle and silencer at Mr Whitford’s property on November 3, 2021.</p> <p>Justice Pearce said Mr Whitford had no relevant prior convictions, and his neighbours “attest to his skill” around pest control.</p> <p>He said there was no risk to any person or other animals in this case.</p> <p>Justice Pearce said the weapon could, however, be used inappropriately in the wrong hands.</p> <p>Mr Whitford has been given 28 days to pay his $5,000 fine.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p>

Legal

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Kevin the Kookaburra's killer receives maximum penalty

<p>The man who tore the head off a kookaburra at a Perth pub has been fined the maximum penalty of $2,500.</p> <p>WA Police and RSPCA WA began an investigation following accounts from patrons at the Parkerville Tavern, who said they witnessed Daniel Welfare rip the head off Kevin the kookaburra after the bird took food from his plate.</p> <p>The $2,500 fine is the maximum penalty for the offence of “unlawful take of fauna”.</p> <p>According to the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Welfare was the first person to be fined the maximum amount for the offence since new laws came into force on January 1.</p> <p>“Even though kookaburras are not native to Western Australia, they are classified as fauna under the Act, which means people must not take or disturb them without lawful authority,” a spokesperson said.</p> <p>The kookaburra had been well-known to pub staff and regulars prior to the attack, with a notice featuring a photo of Kevin on display at the tavern.</p> <p>“Meet one of the locals (he’s still out there). He has a love for the Parky Steak Sandwich and fish. He is loathed to buy his own and whenever possible, will sneak up and steal yours,” the sign warns.</p> <p>“Please be mindful of your precious steak sandwich and meals in the garden and in the meantime, we shall continue our negotiations with this chap in the hope that he learns some table manners.”</p> <p>A customer told <em><a href="https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wildlife/kookaburras-head-ripped-off-in-barbaric-attack-at-parkerville-tavern-ng-b881364437z">PerthNow</a> </em>that Welfare “grabbed” Kevin after the bird flew down onto his plate.</p> <p>“I went ‘Oh my god, he’s got him’ and then he sort of just hesitated for a moment, like seconds, and then put his hands under the table and just ripped his head off,” the customer said.</p> <p>“The thing that got me is he just threw the bird on the floor, he just ditched it.”</p> <p>Investigations with the RSPCA and the Department of Primary Industries and Development are still ongoing.</p>

Domestic Travel

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“Dangerous nuisance animal”: Man accused of ripping kookaburra's head off named and shamed

<p>The lawyer for a Perth man who is alleged to have ripped the head off beloved Kevin the Kookaburra has called the bird a “dangerous nuisance animal” that should have been dealt with by the Parkerville Tavern much earlier.</p> <p>The Parkerville Tavern is where the man is alleged to have grabbed the local favourite known as Kevin, ripped his head off and thrown the bird under the table.</p> <p>Ross Williamson said that his client Daniel Welfare had left the country after a barrage of death threats and attacks over last week’s killing via social media.</p> <p>However, Williamson would not confirm whether or not his client was guilty of being responsible for the death of Kevin.</p> <p>He has also issued restraining orders to two women who he has accused of issuing an “online vigilante campaign” against his client.</p> <p>However, the women said that they will not stop until Welfare is brought to justice.</p> <p>Tania Scheulin, witness to the incident, has been outspoken about this.</p> <p>“I will never stop until the person that did this has some repercussions for it, charged by police or gets a fine.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">There's a new development in the case of a kookaburra that had its head ripped off at a Hills pub. <a href="https://twitter.com/kamingock?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KaminGock</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9News?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9News</a> <a href="https://t.co/TQe8N6qICt">pic.twitter.com/TQe8N6qICt</a></p> — Nine News Perth (@9NewsPerth) <a href="https://twitter.com/9NewsPerth/status/1189124300785123329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>However, Williamson has said that he has previous information relating to Kevin’s behaviour at the Tavern and that kookaburras are an invasive species in WA.</p> <p>"The kookaburra is an invasive species in WA," he said to<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/perth-kevin-the-kookaburra-beheaded-man-leaves-australia-death-threats-crime-news-wa-australia/e3c92ab2-5af5-4df1-bca7-c5b5f9089de2" target="_blank">9News</a></em>.</p> <p>"Until recently you could shoot them with impunity and people used to do that and get a community service award for doing that sort of thing.</p> <p>"This particular bird I have reports about. It has attacked children. It's injured the faces of children... this bird is - or was - a dangerous nuisance animal and the Parkerville Tavern should have done something to deal with it."</p> <p>He has also criticised the state government’s role in the case.</p> <p>"I noticed the Police Commissioner, with the Police Minister at his side, called a press conference saying they are going to prosecute my client over the demise of a pest - a harmful, nuisance bird," he said.</p> <p>"I hear nothing about the police investigating and prosecuting people for making threats to harm, kill and rape my clients.</p> <p>"I call on the police to do that - to investigate this criminal vigilante."</p>

News

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Justice for Kevin: Man who tore kookaburra's head off could face prosecution

<p>A man who tore the head off a kookaburra in a Perth pub in front of families with young children may still face prosecution.</p> <p>The man, allegedly in his 40s, was at the Parkerville Tavern, when the beloved but chip stealing resident kookaburra known as Kevin stole some chips off his plate.</p> <p>The man allegedly grabbed the kookaburra, pulled the bird's head off and threw it under the table.</p> <p>Kevin was beloved by locals who attended the pub.</p> <p>An RSPCA spokeswoman told AAP that the organisation had not given up on pursuing the man but said that the Animal Welfare Act was unclear.</p> <p>Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan has promised to search legal avenues surrounding native wildlife protection.</p> <p>“It is pretty disgusting I think everyone is rightly appalled. We are now checking with the department whether or not this can be characterised as an act of animal cruelty,” she said on Monday to<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://10daily.com.au/shows/10-news-first/a191028drqhz/shock-and-disbelief-as-man-who-allegedly-ripped-head-of-kookaburra-may-not-be-prosecuted-20191028" target="_blank">10daily</a></em>.</p> <p>“I think everyone in this community would say there should be some penalty for behaving in this way. And that’s what we are very determined that we will sort this out.”</p> <p>Environment Minister Stephen Dawson has said that a review of the Animal Welfare Act is underway.</p> <p>“If the allegations are true, this is a despicable act. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) and WA Police are conducting a joint investigation into the incident,” he said.</p> <p>“The State Government currently has a review of the Animal Welfare Act underway, with an independent panel due to provide advice to the Agriculture Minister next year.</p> <p>“Cases like this will be examined as part of the review.”</p>

Family & Pets

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Brutal killing of a beloved kookaburra deemed not to be an offence by RSPCA

<p>A pub-goer has shocked fellow patrons by allegedly ripping the head off a beloved kookaburra named Kevin in an overly aggressive reaction to the bird taking some chips.</p> <p>The man, in his 40s, was dining at Parkerville Tavern when he reportedly became so enraged that he grabbed Kevin, tore him apart from the neck and threw him on the ground.</p> <p>According to<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wildlife/kookaburras-head-ripped-off-in-barbaric-attack-at-parkerville-tavern-ng-b881364437z" target="_blank">Perth Now</a></em>, a woman named Chantelle was nearby with her eight and ten year old children when the incident occurred.</p> <p>“Kevin had flown down onto this bloke’s plate and the bloke grabbed him and I went, ‘Oh my god, he’s got him’, and then he sort of just hesitated for a moment, like seconds, and then put his hands quickly under the table and just ripped his head off,” she told the publication.</p> <p>“The bird squawked when he grabbed it, obviously, but the sound of that... it was just horrible and I was just instantly on my feet. It all erupted then, people were very, very angry and yelling abuse at him.”</p> <p>Other patrons were shocked and demanded the man leave, but he lashed out and told them to “f*** off”.</p> <p>The incident was then reported to RSPCA WA but the organisation has come out in a statement saying that under Western Australia law, the act does not constitute an offence.</p> <p>“It was reported to the RSPCA Cruelty Hotline last night that a visitor to the tavern killed Kevin in front of other visitors including families with children. An RSPCA WA Inspector has made inquiries. Sadly, right now under Western Australian law, it does not appear that this horrific act constitutes an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2002,” RSPCA WA said in a<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/RSPCAWA/photos/a.10152120272653583/10157000620353583/?type=3&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAIS0Hl7OPx5wKZI4grf6PNt_evhCqkzHT2n_I8-z7m4Zm2Rop_wzLiKwVVpTwrE1NEt70zKP4OzTX2JboQle4eehYRVriYRf4nXOXBGxCWX7v91jE-6GSwLh1B5hQIIz-vrccapcvAqRWnabdXzoPIH5axXXAGF9qxKbPJ8rk5v8aFugxpD2P2HmB-s5FjyxpPrFgdcvwQVwnvMrbd8Mj1zo8_8IeEFgCzZcX0Ip6eHLOFAKgpwtCdoq_tGpV8VOo36mVbPphaSY2j-5dYaybFXteUwjInpsv-2xjg1tFN-BC4Q__W4Lt5fZx5oIFMuZWHFOgR_GkX9JxNAFiH&amp;__tn__=-R" target="_blank">statement</a>.</p> <p>“Animal Welfare law in WA is based on cruelty and suffering, and due to the quick nature of this bird's demise, it does not appear to meet the level of suffering required to become an offence under the law. Because of that, RSPCA WA Inspectors may not be able to prosecute for animal cruelty.”</p> <p>The RSPCA WA then went on to announce a review to the current Animal Welfare Act, inviting submissions from the public to<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/animalwelfare/review-animal-welfare-act-2002?fbclid=IwAR3eDjwZS1ErfsKiNNbVwQZE_9uvfrDYRsalydZ5Rato4kMTCLxv3VfbnYc" target="_blank">help enact the change</a>.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ftheparkervilletavern%2Fphotos%2Fa.584488988227854%2F2274794319197304%2F%3Ftype%3D3&amp;width=500" width="500" height="696" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></p> <p>The pub has expressed its sadness over the death of Kevin, saying that the incident is “not the norm and will not be tolerated”.</p> <p>“RIP Kevin. We are still in disbelief about the barbaric attack on one of nature’s gifts. We are so sorry for those who witnessed this despicable act and whilst for many (especially the children) the memory of seeing such a thing will remain fresh for some time yet, please take comfort in knowing that the whole community is standing together against this type of behaviour,” the post read.</p> <p>“This is not the norm and will not be tolerated. The matter is being dealt with by the authorities, so we will know more about what the outcome will be soon. Thank you for everyone’s support. Such a beautiful community.”</p> <p>However, at the time of writing, the pub has released another post and taken the original post down.</p> <p>“As you may have noticed, we have removed the post about the loss of Kevin, our resident Kookaburra, and whilst the investigation is underway, we kindly ask that no further comments regarding the incident are made on our page. We are awaiting further information from the police and will know more soon.”</p>

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