Man fined after ramming tree, poking koala (BEST STORY OF THE WEEK)

Man fined after ramming tree, poking koala

A former country Victorian teenager has been convicted and fined $2800 after he repeatedly rammed his car into a tree to try and dislodge a koala.

- Koala poked with stick
- Tree rammed
- Man pleads guilty

A court heard today that Brett Grant Seabrook, 19, had earlier found the koala at the base of a tree near his campsite in the Barmah State Park in northern Victoria.

Echuca Magistrates Court was told that Seabrook wrapped the marsupial in a blanket and released it in a tree at the campsite on March 22 this year.

Wildlife officer Greg Chant, prosecuting for the Department of Sustainability and Environment, said when the koala began to make a loud noise, Seabrook tried to retrieve it by poking it with a stick.

Mr Chant said Seabrook then rammed the tree with his Toyota Landcruiser utility, which was witnessed by a number of nearby campers who alerted authorities.

Seabrook, who returned from Queensland for today's hearing, pleaded guilty to five charges that included possessing wildlife - which has maximum penalties of 12 months' jail or a $24,000 fine - and causing danger to an animal.

A lawyer for the contract sprayer said his client, who had not previously offended, initially thought the koala was injured.

Magistrate Bill Gibb told Seabrook that if he had not pleaded guilty he would have fined him $4000.

Speaking outside court, Mr Chant said the DSE would continue to conduct regular patrols on public land and would take appropriate action against anyone acting illegally.

"This is clearly inappropriate behaviour and I would encourage members of the public to report similar incidents to DSE or the police," he said.

Man fined after ramming tree, poking koala

And THIS is why John doesn't allow me to go to Australia haha. Look at how fuzzy wuzzy!

I want, no I NEED one! I shall name him Bruce (Monty Python sketch)!

If you get a koala then I want an otter! A pair of otters!

OMG Otters AND Koalas!????1!!!


Brain. Can't. Handle. Fuzzy. Wuzzy.



:yippee:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rebgirl420

[B][SIZE="5"]
And THIS is why John doesn't allow me to go to Australia haha. Look at how fuzzy wuzzy!

I want, no I NEED one! I shall name him Bruce (Monty Python sketch)!

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You can have one --- just don't poke it.

I thought I could poke it as long as it wasn't with a stick

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rebgirl420

I thought I could poke it as long as it wasn't with a stick

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Yeah, sure. You start poking a fuzzy koala nice-like, and then one thing leads to another, and pretty soon it is totally out of hand....

They should post signs around Australia like this: