Heartless poachers kill child's pet cows
An 11-year-old child is mourning the loss of his three pet cows after they were butchered for meat by heartless poachers.
Dartanion Salerno has been left devastated after the deaths of Honey, Kelly and Susie, hand-raised animals which had been grazing on his uncle’s pastoral property between Kununurra and Wyndham in WA's Kimberley region.
The young cattle owner said he was horrified to discover one of the cow’s newly born calves had also been left to die of starvation alongside its mother’s carcass.
“These cows are as tame as they get, they are so friendly they will walk up to a stranger to be hand-fed,” Dartanion said.
“That’s why people can shoot them; they are so friendly and will stand along the fence line.”
Dartanion said he had been passionate about cattle since he was five, home-rearing 18 poddy calves using money he had saved from chopping wood.
One of his animals, Fenella, even won Best Poddy Calf at last year’s Kununurra Agricultural Show.
Wyndham police Sergeant Gene Wright said there had been three reports of cattle being shot in recent weeks with one near Cheese Tin Creek on Great Northern Highway and the other two along the Gibb River Road.
Sgt Wright said all the animals appeared to have been killed for meat.
He said “killers”, as they were known, were a common occurrence in the Kimberley and a major frustration to station owners.
“It is around about $1000 for a cow so it is a financial burden to the owner,” he said.
“We’ve got three reports that we are investigating but it is very hard to obtain evidence being so remote and having a decomposing carcass.
“We are stepping up patrols out there and we are urging members of the public with any information to contact Crime Stoppers.”
The maximum penalty for stock theft is seven years imprisonment.
Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Dartanion is also offering a reward to anyone with information.
