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| Koala screwed to post sparks anger in Australia | Koala screwed to post sparks anger in Australia |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Australian animal welfare authorities are investigating the discovery of a dead koala that was screwed to a wooden post, in an act criticised as "sick". | Australian animal welfare authorities are investigating the discovery of a dead koala that was screwed to a wooden post, in an act criticised as "sick". |
| The incident has caused widespread anger after a photo of the marsupial was posted on social media. | The incident has caused widespread anger after a photo of the marsupial was posted on social media. |
| Council workers found the koala fixed by its paws to a wooden shelter in a park in Queensland on Wednesday. | |
| The perpetrator could face animal cruelty charges if found, the RSPCA said. | The perpetrator could face animal cruelty charges if found, the RSPCA said. |
| It is not yet known how the koala died. Its fur was matted with blood, and gum leaves had been hung in front of it. | It is not yet known how the koala died. Its fur was matted with blood, and gum leaves had been hung in front of it. |
| "It's just sick, it makes me want to throw up," Murray Chambers, from Koala Rescue Queensland, told the BBC. | "It's just sick, it makes me want to throw up," Murray Chambers, from Koala Rescue Queensland, told the BBC. |
| "I've been doing this job for 10 years and I've never seen anything like it." | "I've been doing this job for 10 years and I've never seen anything like it." |
| The not-for-profit group put the image on Facebook in a bid to find the perpetrator, in a post that has drawn thousands of shares. | The not-for-profit group put the image on Facebook in a bid to find the perpetrator, in a post that has drawn thousands of shares. |
| Commenter Sandy Fiorentini wrote: "How sad to think we as humans could inflict such cruelty on a defenceless living creature... there are sick humans out there." | Commenter Sandy Fiorentini wrote: "How sad to think we as humans could inflict such cruelty on a defenceless living creature... there are sick humans out there." |
| 'Was it alive?' | 'Was it alive?' |
| Mr Chambers said the koala may have been struck by a car. The picnic area was close to a road in Imbil, about 120km (75 miles) north of Brisbane. | Mr Chambers said the koala may have been struck by a car. The picnic area was close to a road in Imbil, about 120km (75 miles) north of Brisbane. |
| "My gut feeling is that it was hit but why would you screw a koala to a wooden structure?" he said. | "My gut feeling is that it was hit but why would you screw a koala to a wooden structure?" he said. |
| "And was it alive when they did it?" | "And was it alive when they did it?" |
| The koala was fixed to the pole with building screws, local media reported. | The koala was fixed to the pole with building screws, local media reported. |
| The RSPCA has requested an autopsy as part of an investigation, spokesman Michael Beattie said. | The RSPCA has requested an autopsy as part of an investigation, spokesman Michael Beattie said. |