Shocking footage shows a teenage girl forcing a confused QUOKKA to inhale an e-cigarette
Shocking footage shows a teenage girl forcing a QUOKKA to inhale an e-cigarette – as the confused animal thought it was being given food
- Video emerges of teenage girl forcing an e-cigarette into a quokka’s mouth
- The act of animal cruelty was filmed on Rottnest Island, Western Australia
- The RSPCA in Western Australia slammed the video and vowed to investigate
A teenage girl has tried to coax an unsuspecting quokka to inhale an e-cigarette in a heartbreaking act of animal cruelty.
Video of the shocking incident, which was filmed on Rottnest Island, emerged on social media, prompting the Western Australian RSPCA to call for the teen responsible to come forward.
In the clip, a young girl forces her vape in the inquisitive quokka’s mouth and keeps it there for several seconds.
A teenage girl tried to coax an unsuspecting quokka to inhale an e-cigarette in an act of animal cruelty filmed on Rottnest Island
The marsupial seems to think it is being given food in the clip, released by 9News.
The video was posted online with the title ‘vape sesh’.
‘It is completely and utterly irresponsible and unacceptable for this poor defenceless, vulnerable animal to be subjected to that kind of cruelty,’ said Hannah Dreaver of RSPCA Western Australia.
‘These animals are really very vulnerable. They’ve become used to human interaction – they aren’t running away from us; they aren’t avoiding interaction.’
The RSPCA is investigating the incident, and can seek maximum fines of up to $50,000 possible in some animal cruelty cases.
Cruelty towards quokkas is sadly not uncommon.
In 2017, Harrison Angus McPherson, 20, pleaded guilty to animal cruelty after footage of him kicking a quokka on Rottnest Island was posted on social media.
That year a New Zealand man was charged with animal cruelty after throwing a quokka off a jetty on Rottnest.
In the clip, the young girl forces her vape in the inquisitive quokka’s mouth and keeps it there for several seconds
Hannah Dreaver (pictured) of RSPCA Western Australia slammed the teen girl’s behaviour in the video and said the act of animal cruelty will be investigated
In other incidents, young men were reported for giving quokkas alcohol and in one incident, setting fire to one.
To try and protect the marsupials, even taking selfies with quokkas is discouraged these days.
Instagram has warned tourists taking quokka selfies in Western Australia may be a form of animal cruelty.
Social media users who click on the #quokkaselfie hashtag are warned that searching for the images on Instagram may ‘encourage harmful behaviour to animals.’
‘Animal abuse and the sale of endangered animals or their parts is not allowed on Instagram,’ the warning reads.
