Two young men have been charged after video footage emerged of a quokka being kicked on Rottnest Island.
The video, obtained by WAtoday, shows a man in a grey t-shirt and black jeans chasing the quokka around a tree and kicking it at least twice.
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Man caught kicking a quokka
Shocking footage has emerged of a man kicking a quokka. Warning: Distressing content.
The man can be heard saying 'come here you little c***' before kicking it a second time. The kick sends the small animal into a wall.
It tries to run away from the man before the video ends after nine seconds.
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Another man can be heard laughing in the background as the incident is being filmed.
Police have since charged two men, aged 20 and 21, with cruelty to animals. Police will allege the incident happened at about 6pm on Sunday.Â
"The men were leaving the island today [Monday] when police located them. The quokka has not been located and it is unclear whether it was injured. Local authorities will look out for the animal," police said in a statement.
"The men have been evicted off the island."
The 21-year-old from North Yunderup and the 20-year-old Falcon man will appear at Fremantle Magistrates Court on March 13.
The Department of Parks and Wildlife said it was aware of the video, a spokesperson for the agency said.
"We are aware of the incident and we are assisting WA Police with their investigation," they said.
Unfortunately, this is not the first incident to occur on the island.
In 2015, two French tourists who burnt a Rottnest quokka chose to stay in jail rather than pay a $4000 fine – costing Australian taxpayers thousands of dollars.
That incident was also filmed.
The same year a teenager who kicked a Rottnest Island quokka two metres into the air avoided jail and walked away from Fremantle Magistrates Court with a $2500 fine.
And last year another man was also filmed giving vodka to a quokka. Authorities said it could have killed the animal.
Rottnest Island Authority CEO Michelle Reynolds said the group was "actively supporting the Rottnest Island Police and Department of Parks and Wildlife" in its investigations.
"Rottnest is one of the last sanctuaries available in the world for this threatened species. The safety of quokkas and viability of the population is a priority for the authority," Ms Reynolds said.
Rottnest Island, situated about 18km west of Fremantle, is home to about 10,000 quokkas, according to the Rottnest Island Authority website.
The animal is currently ranked as 'vulnerable' under the the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.Â
Anyone who deliberately interferes with wildlife on the island can receive a $150 on the spot fine.
Acts of animal cruelty can also result in fines up to $50,000 and five years imprisonment.
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