Outrage as ibis filmed in cage beside bins at Lonestar Tavern in Mermaid Waters

Images of an ibis caged beside bins at a popular Gold Coast pub have caused uproar on social media. Now authorities have weighed in. Here’s their verdict on what happened.

Locals have reacted with fury after a video was posted on social media showing an ibis in a cage beside rubbish bins at a popular Gold Coast pub.

However wildlife authorities have cleared staff at the Lonestar Tavern in Mermaid Waters of any wrongdoing after investigating the matter following a flurry of complaints.

The social media storm was sparked after the video was posted to the Mermaid, Nobbys and Miami Community Facebook page.

It depicted the ibis trapped in a cage beside an area reserved for rubbish bins.

The footage also showed a member of the Tavern’s staff asking the person filming the video leave the area.

The social media storm was further inflamed when a comment was made on Facebook from a person who claimed to be an employee of the tavern saying that the creature was trapped after “pestering our customers”.

“The second option was to kill it with bug spray, so you guys tell us what you prefer,” the person said.

A still from the video showing an ibis in a cage at a bin area beside the Lonestar Tavern in Mermaid Waters.

Following multiple complaints the incident was investigated by wildlife officials at the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.

They concluded that no laws had been broken and the inflammatory comments regarding bug spray came from a bogus account.

“We investigated reports of an ibis locked in a cage and claims of ibis sprayed with insect repellent,” a spokesperson said.

“The department has found the ibis pictured was caught and removed lawfully by a licenced permit holder.

“We believe the Facebook account claiming to be an employee of the Lonestar Tavern is fake.

“Ibis are native animals that play an important role in natural pest management by eating small insects and grubs.

“To harm or kill a native animal is not only cruel, but also illegal, with a hefty penalty of up to $16,130 if found guilty.”

The ibis was found in an area where bins were being stored.

An administrator for the Mermaid, Nobbys and Miami Community Facebook community page said they were forced to turn off comments on the post that sparked the social media storm.

The page administrator said a staff member from Lonestar Tavern had confirmed that the bird was relocated by a licensed wildlife removalist.

“The staff at the Tavern kept it in their fenced off industrial bin area for about an hour waiting for the relocation company to arrive and take it far away to release it back to the wild,” he said.

Native birds, including ibis, are protected under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 throughout Queensland.

The maximum penalty for the unlawful harming of an ibis is $16,130.

The Bulletin has contacted the Lonestar Tavern for comment.

Originally published as Outrage as ibis filmed in cage beside bins at Lonestar Tavern in Mermaid Waters