Police are searching for a man who allegedly tied an ibis by its neck and feet, trying to force it into a wheeled trolley before members of the public intervened.
On Tuesday, officers from Ryde Police Area Command received calls that a man allegedly captured an ibis outside Eastwood Railway Station.
A man allegedly tied up an ibis before members of the public intervened.Credit: Alan House
Members of the public allegedly saw the man tie the bird up and try to put it into a wheeled red trolley before they stopped him from taking the native Australian animal.
The man allegedly left the area before police arrived.
Witnesses told police the bird appeared to have an injured beak and was bleeding. It flew away before WIRES wildlife rescue officers and police arrived.
Police are now investigating the matter as an alleged act of animal cruelty.
The man was last seen boarding a city-bound train to Central Railway Station. He is described as being Asian in appearance, wearing a navy blue short-sleeved shirt and light-coloured pants.
The white Australian ibis is sometimes referred to as a bin chicken and is a protected species under the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act.
Investigators are appealing for anyone who may have seen the man in the Eastwood Railway Station area and might have footage that can assist, to contact Ryde Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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