In Horsham, a regional town in Victoria, a tragic incident involving the death of hundreds of corellas has raised serious concerns. Initially, more than 50 birds were discovered deceased near the Wimmera River last Tuesday, but this number has escalated to around 300, suggesting a significant environmental crisis.
Local teams from the Horsham Rural City Council have been diligently recovering the bird remains from both the river and nearby areas. While conducting the clean-up, crews encountered grains believed to be toxic, which they have since vacuumed and safely covered to mitigate further risks to local wildlife.
The situation has prompted an investigation by the Victorian conservation regulator, which is in the process of analysing samples to establish the cause of death and identify the type of poison involved. Corellas, being a protected species under Victorian law, cannot be hunted or harmed, and those found guilty of infringing these regulations could face severe consequences, including hefty fines or imprisonment.
Kate Gavens, the chief of the conservation regulator, has emphasised the unlawful and perilous nature of poisoning wildlife and is urging the community to assist in identifying the perpetrators. Gavens has called on anyone who may possess information, particularly those with CCTV footage or witnessing anything unusual along the Wimmera River, to report to Crime Stoppers.
Residents are strongly advised against touching or moving any dead or ill birds. Instead, should they encounter clusters of five or more deceased birds, they should document the event with photographs and note the location, then notify the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action to aid in the investigation.
The ongoing inquiry aims to uncover the events leading to this alarming incident and ensure measures are put in place to protect the area’s wildlife going forward.