Hon. Sally Talbot questions the Minister for Environment regarding the shooting of black cockatoos in the Bridgetown-Manjimup area. The Minister confirms an investigation is underway, but prosecution is unlikely due to insufficient evidence.

AnsweredQoN 53Legislative Council
Asked
18 February 2016
Portfolio
Environment

QuestionView source ↗

BLACK COCKATOO — SHOOTING
53. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the minister
representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the recent newspaper report
on 11 February 2016 about a Baudin's black cockatoo found injured from
shotgun pellets in the Bridgetown area.
(1) Can the
minister confirm that a large number of black cockatoos have been found injured
or killed on an orchard or farm in the Bridgetown–Manjimup area?
(2) If yes to (1), what was the
species and how many birds in total have been injured or killed?
(3) Is the
Department of Parks and Wildlife investigating this incident for a possible
prosecution; and, if not, why not?
(4) If yes to (3), when will the
report be finalised and a decision to prosecute be made?
(5) How many
incidents of shooting or destroying black cockatoos have been reported in the
last five years, and how many of those incidents have been investigated by
DPaW?
(6) How many of those incidents
investigated have led to prosecutions?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice
of this question.
(1) No large
numbers of black cockatoos have been found injured or killed on orchards or
farms in the Bridgetown–Manjimup area.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) Yes. The
Department of Parks and Wildlife is investigating the shooting of the bird
found on 11 February 2016, with a view to prosecution if sufficient evidence
can be obtained.
(4) Currently there is insufficient
evidence to pursue prosecution.
(5) Five incidents
have been reported over the past five years, all of which were investigated by
Parks and Wildlife.
(6) Of the matters investigated,
only one resulted in prosecution.

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