Accused bird abuser charged with stuffing cockatoos in a suitcase

An accused bird abuser allegedly used fishing wire to capture two cockatoos before stuffing the animals into a suitcase and shaking it profusely.

A notorious bird abuser, who once killed an ibis he planned to cook and eat, is back behind bars after he allegedly stuffed two cockatoos in a suitcase and profusely shook it.

Tom Quach, 61, was allegedly spotted by neighbours on Saturday using fishing line to catch the native birds near his Malabar unit, in Sydney’s east.

Quach, who has served jail time for animal cruelty and been warned by a court to stay way from all native birds, then allegedly shoved the long-billed corellas in a bag and took them inside his Anzac Pde home.

Horrified witnesses called police after allegedly watching Quach “swinging” the closed case as he walked inside his unit block.

Police arrived about 6pm and found the two birds in an animal carrier, suffering various injuries.

Tom Quach, pictured in 2023, allegedly caught two cockatoos, stuffed them in a suitcase and shook it. Picture: NewsWire/ Adam Yip

“Both birds were taken to a Sydney vet in stable conditions where they are undergoing treatment,” a NSW Police spokesman said.

Quach was arrested and taken to Maroubra Police Station, where he was charged with committing an act of cruelty upon an animal and harming or attempting to harm a protected animal.

“Police will allege the man shook the suitcase that contained the two native birds, resulting in their injuries”, the spokesman said.

The Vietnamese national did not apply for bail when he appeared in Parramatta Local Court on Sunday.

Long-billed corellas, also known as long-billed cockatoos, are native animals and a protected species in Australia.

In 2023, Quach pleaded guilty to 10 counts of animal cruelty after he slaughtered an ibis, then hung it in his shower before attempting to cook it.

He told a court he was confused about whether the birds, colloquially known as “bin chickens”, could be eaten in NSW.

Quach was convicted of animal cruelty and sentenced to six months in jail. He was released in February last year.

He will face court again later this month on his latest charges.

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