Bird cruelty Cairns: RSPCA investigates after sparrow shot with blow dart in Edmonton

An animal cruelty complaint has been made after the disturbing discovery of dead birds that appear to have been shot with a blowgun-style dart in Cairns. Warning: Graphic

An animal cruelty complaint has been made after the disturbing discovery of dead birds in the Edmonton area that appear to have been shot with a blowgun style dart.

A disturbing image of a dead house sparrow harpooned by a homemade sharpened nail has circulated on social media.

Edmonton resident Trista Robinson said an animal cruelty report has been filed with the RSPCA.

A dead house sparrow was found in Edmonton with a homemade blowgun dart in its side. Picture:

“The bird couldn’t be saved due to an untreatable infection caused by the nail spearing into the air pocket,” she said.

“Euthanasia was the kindest thing for the bird.

“Anyone else know or see anything please let me know so I can add it to the RSPCA report.”

Ms Robinson urged residents that live in the vicinity of the Edmonton PCYC to be on the lookout for illegal bird hunters.

The carefully constructed 20cm dart at one end had a sharpened point and its understood a piece of paper shaped like a cone at the other end was fashioned to project the dart at high velocity from a hollow pipe.

In Queensland the maximum penalty for an individual convicted of cruelty to animals is $287,500 or three years imprisonment.

A crested pigeon shot with a blow dart in Adelaide in 2017.

The darts used in the attack appear similar to sharpened nails used to shoot native pigeons and ducks in South Australia in 2017.

At the time of that attack RSPCA Adelaide stated it was hard to imagine what type of person, or people, would target innocent animals in such an inhumane way.

“The dart appears to have been crudely designed for the purpose of injuring or killing an animal,” he said.

“It’s horrifying that people would go to such deliberate lengths.”

The most recent bird deaths followed a horrific attack on a peafowl at the Sugar World Adventure Park water park last year.

Police were called to Sugar World after receiving reports of children inside the park’s fenced off water slide area. 2017.

An RSPCA spokeswoman said anyone who has first-hand information or evidence of the blow dart attack can reach out to the animal welfare organisation on 1300 264 625 or make a report through the website.

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Originally published as Bird cruelty Cairns: RSPCA investigates after sparrow shot with blow dart in Edmonton