Two teenagers in Western Australia have been charged with animal cruelty after allegedly forcing vape fumes down the throat of a black swan and posting a video of the incident online. The accused, aged 16 and 13 and from Erskine, are facing charges for causing unnecessary harm to an animal.
The alleged incident occurred on a lake near Endeavour Island in the City of Mandurah. According to prosecutors, the pair were on an inflatable boat when they removed a lure from the swan's neck. One teenager is then accused of forcing the vape into the swan's beak, while the other allegedly struck the bird on the head. The video of the purported act later surfaced on social media.
During a court appearance, one of the guardians of the teenagers reportedly told media to "bugger off" before leaving in a vehicle. The 16-year-old has been granted bail under specific conditions and is scheduled to appear in Rockingham Children's Court on September 3. The 13-year-old also received bail with conditions but has not yet entered a plea. Their case is listed for summary disclosure in Mandurah Children's Court on September 14.