A 56-year-old man has been charged with five offences following a Cremorne animal cruelty investigation into brush turkeys that police say appeared to have been shot with an arrow and metal ball bearings.
Detectives from North Shore Police Area Command began investigating after members of the public found injured birds near Green Street between April 2025 and September 2026. A number of brush turkeys were discovered over that period, prompting inquiries into the circumstances of their injuries.
The birds were taken to a wildlife hospital on each occasion but were euthanised because of the injuries they had sustained. Police have not specified the total number involved or provided individual dates for the discoveries.
Slingshots Seized In Cremorne Animal Cruelty Search
Investigators executed a search warrant at a Green Street property at approximately 7.30 a.m. on Monday 2 November 2026. During the search, officers allegedly located and seized two slingshots and a number of metal ball bearings.
A 56-year-old man was arrested and taken to Chatswood Police Station. He was charged with three counts of recklessly beating and seriously injuring an animal, together with two counts of possessing or using a prohibited weapon without a permit. Although investigators had received reports of apparent arrow and ball-bearing injuries, the items identified in the police account of the search did not include a bow or arrows.
Protected Native Birds And Court Proceedings
Australian brush turkeys are protected native birds in NSW. Under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, harming or attempting to harm protected animals is an offence, subject to applicable statutory defences.
According to State wildlife information, brush turkeys inhabit forested areas along the eastern seaboard and are known for constructing leaf-litter mounds to incubate their eggs. The man was granted conditional bail and is scheduled to appear before Manly Local Court on Thursday 26 November 2026.
Published 5-November-2026
