This man is accused of catching and killing an ibis before hanging the dead bird up in his shower as he prepared to eat it – and admits devouring the native species before
- Alleged Ibis thief says ‘birds annoy’ him as he stole the native bird
- Tom Quach allegedly tied rope around bird’s feet and neck
- The man was charged with animal cruelty and granted bail
A man who allegedly stole an ibis from a public park before tying the native bird up by its feet to dry it out before cooking it has been released on bail.
Tom Quach, 60, allegedly stuffed the bin chicken into his backpack and then rode to his unit in Sydney‘s eastern suburbs where he decapitated it and hung it up in his shower on Tuesday, in preparation to eat the native bird.
The Vietnamese national was granted bail at Waverley Local Court on Wednesday, charged with animal cruelty and harming or attempting to harm a protected animal.
His lawyer told the court that the 60-year-old was confused about the ibis’ protective status in NSW as he had previously caught and eaten the bird while living in Queensland.
Several members of the public intervened and managed to take the bird from the man, who left the area before police arrived (pictured)
Quach was arrested earlier this year when he was filmed trying to stuff a distressed bird into a shopping bag.
Police responded to an incident where he allegedly captured an ibis outside Eastwood train station on March 31.
Officers were told the man allegedly tied a rope around the bird’s feet and neck before attempting to stuff it into a red trolley bag.
Members of the public attempted to stop the birdnapping, managing to pry the bird from the man’s grasp who fled before police arrived.
Witnesses told police the bird appeared to have an injured beak and was bleeding, but it flew away before police and WIRES Wildlife Rescue arrived.
The white Australian ibis, colloquially referred to as a bin chicken, is a protected species under the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. As such, it cannot be harmed or interfered with.
Quach (pictured) was arrested earlier this year after a video of him trying to put the distressed bird in his wheeled shopping bag went viral online
The court previously heard Quach had ‘lashed out’ at the ibis because other birds had been ‘chasing and attacking’ him
On Wednesday, Quach was granted conditional bail to return to his Maroubra home, but must not approach or own any birds.
As part of his bail conditions, police also may search his home for any birds, dead or alive, up to three times a week.
The court previously heard Quach had ‘lashed out’ at the ibis because other birds had been ‘chasing and attacking’ him.
‘In his mind, he was under attack,’ his legal aid solicitor told the court.
‘The birds were following him and annoying him and he lashed out and took his frustrations out on the bird.’
Quach also faces a single charge each of having a prohibited drug and possessing goods suspected of being stolen.
Quach (pictured) also faces a single charge each of having a prohibited drug and possessing goods suspected of being stolen
The white Australian ibis (pictured), colloquially known as a bin chicken, is a protected species under the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act and cannot be harmed or interfered with
The court heard that Quach suffers from PTSD and bipolar disorder and had spent weeks at a mental health institute only to re-offend just days after being released.
Under the bail conditions imposed on Wednesday, Quach will be required to report to Maroubra police daily and is subject to a strict curfew from 8pm to 6am.
He was also ordered to undertake treatment at Prince of Wales hospital and will be barred from consuming any drugs or alcohol.
