AN ANIMAL cruelty charge has been levelled against a man accused of plucking a live chicken from a Hunter wildlife park and throwing it to alligators while families watched on in horror.
Police were called to the well-known Oakvale Farm and Fauna World at Salt Ash on Tuesday, January 2.
Officers were told a man had snatched a live chicken from an enclosure and threw it into the nearby alligator pen, where it was killed.
Police were alerted and officers were deployed to the site on Wednesday as part of an investigation.
A 57-year-old man attended Singleton Police Station on Thursday, January 4, where he was charged with committing an act of aggravated cruelty upon an animal.
He will front Raymond Terrace Local Court for the first time next month.
Oakvale Farm owner Kent Sansom released a statement on Friday and said management and staff were deeply saddened by the incident.
"This is the first time in our 43 years that we have had a member of the public engage in such cruelty in what is an animal sanctuary," Mr Sansom said.
"Betty White was hand-raised at the park and had played a crucial role in our endangered species breeding programme for the bush stone curlew and other species by providing surrogacy to the chicks.
"Her quiet nature means she would not hesitate to approach a customer for some animal pellets, making her an easy target for a ruthless perpetrator."
Mr Sansom also thanked police, the RSPCA and customers for their support since Tuesday.
"In light of this unfortunate incident, Oakvale Wildlife Park remains steadfast in its commitment to conservation, sustainability, and animal welfare.
"Our extensive efforts include habitat preservation, breeding programs for endangered species, and ongoing education initiatives to foster a deep appreciation for wildlife.
"This incident underscores the importance of our collective responsibility to protect and respect the animals that share our planet."
A witness previously told the Newcastle Herald onlookers watched on in horror as the incident allegedly took place in front of members of the public during the summer school holidays.
The witness claimed the hen was "eaten in front of families and small children".
The witness said the man, understood to have been a visitor to the wildlife park, had a child with him at the time and was immediately escorted from the premises in the aftermath.
"It was truly shocking and just awful for everyone that was there at that time," the witness said.
