Wildlife authorities are on the hunt for three men who allegedly attacked a defenceless penguin before a heroic bystander intervened.
A member of the public spotted the young men allegedly kicking the little penguin at tram stop number 136 in St Kilda, Melbourne, at 11.30pm on December 8.
The witness ‘disturbed’ the group and relocated the penguin to the beach near St Kilda Pier, Crime Stoppers told Daily Mail Australia.
They reported the incident to local authorities who then alerted the Victorian Conservation Regulator.
A member of the public reported seeing three men allegedly kicking a little penguin at tram stop number 136 in St Kilda, Melbourne, on December 8 last year.
The Conservation Regulator has now released CCTV footage of the three men believing it will help with their investigation.
Crime Stoppers Victoria chief executive Stella Smith described the incident as appalling, and said it was important those responsible were found and punished.
‘It’s disturbing behaviour,’ Ms Smith said.
‘The community is always outraged when they see people hurting innocent animals.
‘It’s important that they’re found because we wouldn’t want this to happen again and they need to understand that their behaviour is absolutely unacceptable.’
It is illegal to disturb or destroy wildlife in Victoria.
Maximum penalties range from $3846 to $48,077 or 12 months in jail.
Anyone with any information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Victorian Conservation Regulator for comment.
The Conservation Regulator has now released CCTV footage of the three men believing it will help with their investigation.
