POLICE are investigating the stabbing death of an emu at a zoo in Queensland's Wide Bay-Burnett region, capping off a "horror year" of animal cruelty cases, The Courier Mail reports.
The suspicious death of the bird happened at Bundaberg's Alexandra Park and Zoo on Tuesday night.
RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty described the scene as vicious.
"Somebody snuck into the zoo. It was in an enclosure and they've just gone in and stabbed the animal," Mr Beatty said.
"Something very similar to this happened about 10 years ago."
Mr Beatty said the zoo had moved an ostrich from its enclosure, fearing for its safety.
"If they catch the offenders, we're going to offer help in any way with the prosecution, because the police can charge them under the Animal Care and Protection Act."
The incident comes as the RSPCA struggles with a spate of sadistic attacks on animals including koalas, kangaroos, magpies, dogs and goats in Queensland.
"It's just been a horror year for us, just one thing after another," Mr Beatty said.
Also in recent months, a puppy called Peanut was abducted and dismembered at Moranbah in October, a cat named Basil was similarly chopped up at Mackay soon after, and a cat dismembered at Moranbah weeks after that.
In Townsville earlier this month, two puppy farmers were fined more than $50,000 after being found guilty of keeping animals in inhuman conditions.
