Man to be charged over disturbing and cruel attack on emus

The man, who allegedly mowed down a group of emus in his car has been caught and expected to be charged with several animal cruelty offences.

On Thursday, the violent and graphic video of the man using his 4WD to hit a number of native birds went viral on social media, causing outrage and leading to an appeal for information from the RSPCA.

After a nation-wide hunt, Victoria Police on Friday shared a statement, revealing a man was set to be charged for the for the act of cruelty to wildlife.

Police believe the shocking incident took place over the past two weeks in Cowangie, in Victoria’s north-west.

Read more: Disturbing footage shows laughing man cruelling mowing down emus in car

The man is expected to be charged with a number of offences including, aggravated cruelty to an animal, cruelty to an animal, torment to an animal, destruction of protected wildlife, as well as traffic related offences for using a mobile phone while driving and speeding.

He is set to face court on November 9.

In the horrifying footage, which was shared over one thousands times, a man with a moustache can be seen laughing as he ploughed towards a group of emus that were frantically trying to escape his car. For each emu he hit, the man could be heard counting aloud.

“F****** emus,” the man laughs as he hits the birds. “This is f****** great. Yes.”

As if the attack was a sick game, the man can also be heard praising himself whenever he hit another emu. “I’ve got that one too … and that one.”

Many condemned the sickening attack online, including the RSPCA. While others who were disgusted and appalled by the video flooded social media with comments.

One person wrote: “I am sharing this in the hope that someone identifies this grub and turns him in!!! I could say so much more if I wasn’t feeling so sick!!”

Another comment read: “And laughing. He should be locked away in a good old fashioned insane asylum for life. He is not normal. I hope he is caught and dealt with severally. Good luck RSPCA.”

A third added: “Get his picture out into the media – nobody should have to watch that sickening video. Those poor emus.”

Do you think Australia needs harsher punishment for people who abuse and mistreat animals like this?