100 wedge-tailed eagles found dead at Tubbut in East Gippsland

ABOUT 100 wedge-tailed eagles have been poisoned in far East Gippsland, with concerns even more may be found dead over coming weeks.

ABOUT 100 wedge-tailed eagles have been poisoned in far East Gippsland, with concerns more may be found dead over coming weeks.

A Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning spokesman said its “authorised officers, in conjunction with other agencies, are investigating the death of a large number of wedge-tailed eagles, and a further four protected bird species on farmland in East Gippsland”.

A Gippsland farmer, who did not want to be named, told The Weekly Times the wedge-tail eagle deaths were concentrated around Tubbut in far East Gippsland and all appeared to have been poisoned.

“I’m told they’ve found about 81 so far but there could be as many as 400,” the farmer said

He said he knew the property where the poisoning occurred and that a disgruntled farm manager had alerted authorities to the poisoning.

“They (DELWP) were told by the perpetrator where to find three to four piles of (dead) eagles on the property,” he said.

Wedge-tailed eagles are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975 and deliberately killing these birds carries a maximum penalty of $7,928.50, and or up to six months imprisonment, and an additional penalty of $792.85 for each bird destroyed.

The DELWP spokesman said the department was taking the matter “very seriously”.

“No charges have been laid but our investigations are ongoing,” the spokesman said.

“As these investigations progress, we are not in a position to comment on additional details.

“DELWP is calling on the community to help us with any further information that could assist this case by contacting us directly or via Crimestoppers.”

DELWP will provide more information on this investigation in Bairnsdale next Tuesday.

Crimestoppers number is 1800 333 000 or you can also report online at https://www.crimestoppersvic.com.au/report-a-crime/