Protected birds killed by hunters in Vic

Rare and endangered birds were among those killed on the opening weekend of the Victorian duck hunting season.

Ducks in the sunshine on the Yarra River

Rare and protected birds were gunned down on the opening weekend of Victoria's duck hunting season. (AAP)

Rare and protected birds were gunned down on the opening weekend of Victoria's duck hunting season.

The RSPCA's mobile animal hospital went to Lake Burrumbeet on Saturday and treated eight birds scooped up from the wetlands.

The first brought in was a protected red-necked avocet, which was in "severe respiratory distress" and had to be euthanised.

"Its neck and chest were torn open with shot and it was left to die slowly and in terror in the water," RSPCA Victoria's Liz Walker said on Monday.

Anti-hunting campaigner Laurie Levy said six rare and endangered freckled ducks and a swan were among the dead birds collected at the lake.

The rescue team outnumbered the shooters - something that shows duck hunting is a dying sport in Victoria, Mr Levy told AAP on Monday.

"There were so few shooters right around Victoria and it's time for the government to bring it to an end," he said.

The bodies of the birds killed on the opening weekend will be placed outside the premier's office at 10am on Tuesday.


Share
Published 21 March 2016 4:08pm
Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world