A second man has been charged after a herd of calves were allegedly run over by a 4×4 vehicle in a paddock.
Police allege a Toyota Prado drove onto a Howatharra cattle farm, north of Geraldton in Washington’s mid-west, in the early hours of August 20 and attempted to run over the three-month-old calves.
Farmers Calvin and Karen Royce discovered the gruesome find on their property five days later.
It is not known how many calves died during the incident, but police say at least eight were injured, with one having to be euthanized.
Detectives from the Financial Crimes Squad arrested a 22-year-old man from Glenfield, south of Howatharra on Thursday.
He was charged with damaging or destroying property and cruelty to animals.
He remains in custody but will appear at Carnarvon Magistrates’ Court later on Thursday.
This comes a week after police arrested a 21-year-old man accused of driving the Toyota and deliberately trying to run over the newborn calves.
A second man has been charged after a 4×4 vehicle allegedly ran over several three-month-old calves on a Howatharra cattle farm last month. Tire marks are pictured on the property
The 21-year-old man will reappear in Geraldton Magistrates’ Court on September 18 on the same charges as the Glenfield man.
Detective Superintendent Peter Foley confirmed last week that police were aware of disturbing footage of the incident.
“We are aware of a video circulating online depicting what can only be described as an abhorrent act of animal cruelty,” Dewt Superintendent Foley said in a statement.
‘The vision is confrontational and we take incidents of this nature extremely seriously.
‘Animal cruelty has no place in our society and is something the Western Australian Police Force will not tolerate.’
The Royces previously allowed public access through the property to access the mouth of the Oakajee River.
At least eight calves (file image) were injured during the incident, leading to one of them being euthanised after suffering a suspected back fracture.
The farmers have since closed access and plan to increase camera surveillance and security in the wake of the incident.
Mr. Royce told him alphabet They were alerted that a calf was “sick” and found “pieces” of animals scattered around the pasture.
They say up to 10 calves were killed or dismembered during the incident, including one that suffered a suspected broken back and had to be euthanized.
“They’re not afraid of cars at all, there are animals sleeping, who suddenly sit there staring into headlights while (allegedly) being hit,” Royce said.
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