A video allegedly showing a man drowning a bandicoot in front of two children has been labelled “abhorrent” by the RSPCA.
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The video was posted on social media and shows a man dropping a cage with an animal inside into a bucket filled with water.
The alleged perpetrator initially described the animal as a rat before identifying it as a bandicoot in an updated social media post.
Chief executive of RSPCA Tasmania, Peter West, said there was no need for any animal to suffer in this way.
“All animals are sentient beings and pain and suffering must be minimised wherever possible,” Mr West said.
There is no reason for any animal, be they a bandicoot or a rat or any animal, to be treated in this way.
- Peter West, RSPCA Tasmania
The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment has launched an investigation into the video and searched a house near Burnie in relation to the matter.
DPIPWE head wildlife ranger Luke Bond said a number of items were seized during the search and a man was assisting the department with their inquiries.
Mr Bond said the investigation was continuing and no charges had been laid yet.
ANIMAL CRUELTY LAWS ‘NOT STRONG ENOUGH’
Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary owner Greg Irons reported the video to the DPIPWE after numerous people sent it to him.
Nothing makes my blood boil more than seeing animal cruelty.
- Greg Irons, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
Mr Irons said the alleged perpetrator showed no remorse because they described the video as “quality time with the boys”, wrote “oops” after discovering they'd drowned a bandicoot not a rat and had yet to remove the video.
Mr Irons said tougher penalties for animal cruelty were the only way to teach people who show no remorse after doing something like this.
“Across the board, charges for animal cruelty are not strong enough,” he said.
Mr Irons said the fact the alleged perpetrator drowned the animal in front of children had to be taken into account.
“To teach kids that that’s an acceptable thing to do is one of the problems we have,” he said.