PETA offers reward for information about spray painted brush turkey on Sunshine Coast

Animal rights group PETA is offering a $2000 reward for information about a brush turkey that was spray painted bright pink and “left for dead” in Cotton Tree.

The Sunshine Coast community has been left outraged after a brush turkey that was spray painted bright pink had to be euthanised.

The juvenile bird was spotted by members of the public in Cotton Tree and reported to wildlife group Wilvos on Wednesday.

Volunteer Keith Porteous rushed the brush turkey to Australia Zoo for further treatment and had concerns it suffered from “paint toxicity”.

“I couldn’t actually find it at first in spite of it being fluorescent pink,” he said.

“But I found it in some bushes with some quite nasty injuries … it would’ve died a slow, horrible, painful death.”

The bird was assessed by a vet at the zoo and was found to have a broken wing and leg, resulting in it being euthanised shortly after.

Mr Porteous, who has rescued several other brush turkeys, said it was one of very few cases of animal cruelty on the Coast.

“The actual act itself is abhorrent,” he said.

“I’d say it was possibly driven by an alcohol-fuelled night … not a normal person would do this.”

Animal rights group PETA is offering a reward of up to $2000 for information leading to the “arrest and conviction” of those who spray painted and “left the bird for dead”.

“Someone in the area must have seen or heard something related to this horrific incident,” a PETA spokeswoman said.

“We’re calling on anyone who has information about this callous act to come forward.

“A person capable of deliberately causing such suffering to a helpless animal demonstrates a deeply worrying psychological state and must be found.”

Volunteers had to locate the turkey and rush it to hospital. Picture: Keith Porteous

Mr Porteous said the incident was also reported to the RSPCA and believed juveniles could be behind the act.

“There may not be much repercussions in the way of punishment for it, but these people need to be identified so I’m quite excited to see that statement from PETA,” he said.

“It’s just completely senseless.”

Coast residents took to social media to express their outrage about the incident, calling for those responsible to come forward.

“Disgusting! They must have captured her and held her down to get that much coverage. She would have been terrified,” one wrote.

“Appalling, downright disgusting behaviour. Makes me so sad that anyone could think this is a good idea,” another said.

Anyone with information can contact RSPCA Queensland here or call Wilvos on 5441 6200.