An investigation is underway following an alleged act of animal cruelty at Eastwood.
On Tuesday 28 March 2023, officers from Ryde Police Area Command received calls regarding a man who had allegedly captured an Ibis bird outside Eastwood Railway Station.
Police have been told the man allegedly tied a rope around the bird’s feet and neck and was trying to place the bird into a wheeled red trolley bag.
Members of the public intervened and managed to take the bird from the man, who left the area prior to police arrival.
Witnesses have told police the bird appeared to have an injured beak and was bleeding. The bird was able to fly away before the arrival of police and WIRES officers.
The man was last seen boarding a city-bound train to Central Railway Station. He is described as being Asian in appearance, wearing a navy blue short-sleeved shirt and light-coloured pants.
The white Australian Ibis, sometimes referred to as a bin chicken, is a protected species under the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 and as such, cannot be harmed or interfered with; doing so constitutes an offence under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.
Investigators are appealing for anyone who may have seen the man in the vicinity of Eastwood Railway Station and might have footage that can assist, to contact Ryde Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
