NANNUP locals made a disturbing find while travelling a back road around pine plantations recently.
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Nannup man Rick Barrowclough had driven with a couple of friends up the Bridgetown Road to look at Nursery Dam.
They returned down Uranium Road to East Nannup Road, skirting pine plantations, when they spotted what looked like garbage bags strewn across the road ahead.
"As we edged closer, we could see they were actually the bodies of nine juvenile emus deliberately spaced evenly from one side to the other," Mr Barrowclough said.
"Closer inspection revealed they were recently slaughtered but we were unsure if they had been shot or poisoned.
"They seemed to have been killed elsewhere then transported to this spot and laid out almost as a traffic barrier.
"It's difficult to speculate what was going on in the minds of the perpetrators, if anything."
A spokesperson for the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) said the killing of multiple emu juveniles and their subsequent display across the road was a highly unusual and regrettable occurrence.
"DEC would appreciate any advice that may be provided by people who know anything in relation to this incident," the spokesperson said.
"Emus are protected native fauna under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 and the taking of protected fauna under this Act without lawful authority carries a maximum penalty of $4000."
The spokesperson said emus can cause significant damage to farm fencing and by feeding on grain and fruit crops.
"They can also flatten areas of standing grain crops as they run or walk through them.
"Where significant levels of damage are occurring, DEC can issue damage licenses providing for the humane killing and appropriate disposal of birds causing damage, while also providing for the ongoing conservation of emus."
DEC is investigating this incident and requests anyone with information to contact the DEC Wildcare helpline on 9474 9055.
"DEC will mount prosecution action if sufficient evidence can be found to enable the department to do so," the spokesperson said.
"In addition to offences under the Wildlife Conservation Act, there is the possibility the perpetrator may have committed offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2002."
