Appeal to stop animal cruelty as magpies shackled by illegal collars in Wantirna

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) has been working with Wildlife Victoria volunteers to capture up to nine native birds and remove plastic collars that appear to have been put around their necks in the Wantirna area.

ANIMAL CRUELTY A ‘SICK JOKE’

Nigel Williamson, from Nigel’s Animal Rescue, spent 21 hours capturing a magpie that had a pink plastic collar placed around its neck about 10 days ago.

“She was taken to the vet who checked her out and she had a good bill of health and was released the next day,” Mr Williamson said.

He said the collar was made with three individual pieces of plastic that came from a children’s tea cup set. He has passed it on to the department to investigate.

He said he had been told by locals the magpie had had the collar on for at least four months.

Mr Williamson said there was a chance the same magpie was rescued again by Wildlife Victoria since then on October 27.

“There is a slight suspicion, not confirmed at all, it may be the same bird that I removed (the collar) off,” Mr Williamson said.

“It may have been re-caught by whoever is doing this and another collar put on but it’s not confirmed.”

He is still trying to catch a raven with a collar on, and has set up a permanent trap.

Wildlife Victoria spokeswoman Amy Hidge said the magpie rescued by their volunteer was now being looked after by a wildlife carer.

Ms Hidge said as well as the plastic collar, the bird had had its claws clipped right back, to the point of bleeding.

“I have no idea what the motivation of doing that would be,” Ms Hidge said.

“(The bird) would have been in a fair amount of pain.”

She said their volunteers were out daily trying to capture the other birds.

“The main thing is if anyone knows who is behind this they should contact Crime Stoppers,” Ms Hidge said.

If you have any information, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or DELWP on 136 186.