“Wildlife cruelty is unacceptable”: Man charged over deaths of up to nine wombats in Venus Bay
In Victoria, it is illegal to hunt, take, destroy, injure or interfere with wildlife without authorisation.
Jacob Wallace
July 31, 2025
A South Gippsland man has been charged with 20 offences over an alleged incident in February that led to the deaths of up to nine wombats in Venus Bay.
The offences come under the Wildlife Act 1975 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986.
The charges follow an investigation by the Conservation Regulator and Victoria Police into the deaths, which authorities say occurred on Tuesday, February 18.
The Conservation Regulator said the alleged acts represented “a senseless and deliberate act of animal cruelty”.
Without referring specifically to this case, South Gippsland Shire Mayor John Schelling told the Gippsland Monitor “the unnecessary destruction of wildlife cannot be understated as being a very terrible thing to be doing”, and that locals found cases of animal cruelty “very traumatic”.
Chief Conservation Regulator, Kate Gavens said in a statement: “'Wildlife cruelty is unacceptable. The Conservation Regulator will investigate and seek prosecution for serious cases of wildlife cruelty. ”
All wildlife in Victoria is protected under the Wildlife Act 1975. It is illegal to hunt, take, destroy, injure or interfere with wildlife without authorisation.
The Conservation Regulator urges anyone with information about wildlife cruelty to report it to Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000. Reports can be made anonymously.
