The man accused of ripping the head off a kookaburra after the bird stole some of his food at a pub has been pictured for the first time.
The bird, affectionately known as Kevin, was killed after he nicked one of the chips the man’s plate at the Parkerville Tavern in Parkerville, 33km west of Perth, on Friday night.
Locals claim Daniel Welfare was the man who decapitated Kevin and his lawyer Ross Williams – who did not say Mr Welfare was responsible – said the bird was a ‘nuisance animal’ which should have ‘been dealt with’ by the pub sooner.
Williamson told Nine News his client has left the country after a barrage of death and rape threats over the the kookaburra’s death.
The bird, affectionately known as Kevin, was killed after it nicked food from a diner’s plate at the Parkerville Tavern in Parkerville, 33km west of Perth , on Friday night
Locals claim Daniel Welfare was the man who decapitated Kevin
RSPCA WA claim Kevin’s killer pulled the bird’s head off and threw the remains under the table.
Welfare’s lawyer has issued restraining orders against two women he says are part of an online vigilante campaign against his client.
He would not say whether his client is admitting to or denying his involvement in the animal’s death but said the bird was dangerous and had attacked patrons at the pub.
He also said it was important to note his client was a ‘bushy’ and kookaburras are considered invasive in WA.
‘This particular bird I have reports about. It has attacked children. It’s injured the faces of children… this bird is – or was – a dangerous nuisance animal and the Parkerville Tavern should have done something to deal with it,’ he said.
‘I noticed the Police Commissioner, with the Police Minister at his side, called a press conference saying they are going to prosecute my client over the demise of a pest – a harmful, nuisance bird,’ he said.
The hunt for the man who ripped the head off Kevin the kookaburra (pictured) while he was still alive could be almost over after police revealed they believe they know who the offender is
Kevin was known for cheekily stealing food from pub patrons and it is believed he stole one of the man’s chips.
A WA Police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia no arrest had been made and investigations were ongoing.
Witness Tania Scheulin said the man grabbed the bird when it swooped down, smashed it against his plate and then ripped its head off.
‘He then threw it under the table and carried on with his dinner like nothing happened,’ she told 9News.
A social media comment widely shared online said children were sitting at the next table and added ‘Kevin made a sound that can never be forgotten’.
It comes after the RSPCA said the man could escape prosecution because of a legal loophole.
Kevin the kookaburra was well-known at the Parkerville Tavern (pictured) in Parkerville, 33km west of Perth (pictured) for hopping onto guests’ plates and helping them to finish their meal
A spokeswoman for the charity said the organisation had not given up possibly pursuing the man but said the law was unclear.
Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan has vowed to examine legal avenues surrounding native wildlife protection – depending on the exact species – saying the man’s actions were ‘pretty disgusting’ and everyone was ‘rightly appalled’.
‘We are now checking with the department whether or not this can be characterised as an act of animal cruelty,’ she told reporters on Monday.
Ms MacTiernan said if the case had exposed a legal loophole, it could lead to changes to the Animal Welfare Act, which was currently under review.
‘Quite clearly we need a law that would stop that appalling behaviour happening,’ she said.
In a social media post that has since been deleted, the pub said they were ‘in disbelief about the barbaric attack on one of nature’s gifts’.