Quokka
caught in a DEC pig trap
This
video was taken near Nannup WA on 5 Jan 2011 and shows a
quokka caught in a Department of Environment and Conservation
pig trap. The animal had been trapped for several days (many
quokka droppings both new and dried out were found in the
trap).
I contacted John Carter, the DEC officer in charge of pig
trapping, and he told me that in wet weather the traps are
only checked every three days. This is not good enough for
a department that is in charge of protecting Australian
native animals. The quokka is listed as vulnerable.
DEC
recently charged a person with animal cruelty after a quokka
was kicked on Rotnest Island. The quokka was released immediately
after taking the video.
David
Patterson