Video shows group on quad bikes chasing emus in the Latrobe Valley

SHOCKING video has emerged of a group of young motorbike riders chasing a flock of emus through a paddock while filming themselves in Victoria’s east.

SHOCKING video has emerged of a group of young motorbike riders chasing a flock of emus through a paddock while filming themselves in Victoria’s east.

The video shows four young people on what appear to be quad-style bikes deliberately swerving at the flightless birds who can be seen running for their lives through the Newborough paddock in the Latrobe Valley.

Two of the riders can be seen holding a go-pro and filming the chase.

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It comes just a week after sickening footage appeared online showing a man laughing while deliberately mowing down multiple emus in a 4WD in Cowangie in Victoria’s northwest.

A 20-year-old man has since been charged with animal cruelty related offences and will appear in court in November.

Barree Egan-Laylor who filmed Newborough incident said the cruel practice had been occurring on a “regular basis” for almost 18 months.

A still from a video of motorcyclists chasing an emu in the Latrobe Valley. Picture: Facebook

“These people think they are above the law and can chase our beautiful wildlife,” Ms Egan-Laylor wrote on Facebook.

“So far, five emus have been found on the roads because these people chase them out of the paddock,”

“One was killed, and two seriously injured … there should be 12, sadly now we only see six,” she said.

Ms Egan-Laylor said she had reported the incidents to local police and the RSPCA.

A similar video emerged online earlier this year, showing a driver, thought to be in Western Australia, appearing to deliberately chase and run over five emus.

RSPCA Victoria and police were contacted for comment.

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@GenevieveAlison