4 days ago
Native birds allegedly slaughtered by tradies in 'horrifying' act with potential $110,000 fine
Warning — Distressing images: Confronting pictures of ibis birds lying on the ground limbless and dead have been shared on social media after workers cut down palm trees at a Sydney business park, allegedly taking local bird life with them.
The native birds were known to be residing in the five fully grown palm trees in the city's west earlier this year. Workers began to prune and hack the trees, allegedly leaving dozens of ibis eggs, chicks and fully matured birds killed or significantly injured in the process.
Yahoo News understands a member of public noticed the commotion and contacted a local wildlife organisation. Rescuers rushed to the scene, and despite desperately telling the workers to stop, the work continued. One bird allegedly died in the arms of a wildlife rescuer.
It's been alleged that workers were throwing the tree debris into a wood chipper, and birds were also being tossed in.
Yahoo News reached out to NSW Police who confirmed officers were dispatched to the scene on May 31, following a report of animal cruelty.
"Police were told about 9.30am on Saturday 31 May 2025, two Ibis birds were killed during tree maintenance work, with a further 13 injured. The trees that were trimmed or cut were known to contain a protected bird species," a NSW Police spokesperson said. An investigation is now underway.
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NSW's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) also confirmed to Yahoo News the incident was being investigated and warned companies can face fines of up to $110,000 if caught carrying out work that harms native wildlife.
"People found to have injured or killed protected wildlife face fines of up to $22,000 for individuals and $110,000 for corporations," a NPWS spokesperson said.
Yahoo News has also been in contact with the company that owns the Gladesville business park which declined to provide any comment.
After the pictures were shared online, hundreds of Australians expressed their anger at the alleged incident, calling it "horrifying".
It's not the first time 'bin chickens' have been killed at a Sydney business park, with one of the rescuers who attended the recent incident also on the scene at a similar incident in Chullora in August when more than a dozen birds were brutally killed as trees were trimmed.
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