A pelican has had to be euthanased after suffering a broken wing and ribs in a "cruel" attack by two men in Melbourne's north last week.
A 10-year-old boy watched as the pair, believed to be aged in their 30s, kicked and stomped the bird in the incident in Gladstone Street at St Albans on July 18.
Wildlife officer Suriya Vij said the boy's mother called rescuers who went to the scene.
"Unfortunately [the pelican] suffered such severe injuries that it had to be put down at a vet," she said.
"It's a very cruel attack. To be honest I don't know why anybody would want to do this to a pelican."
The RSPCA is investigating the incident.
"We are looking for whatever information we can get to help us identify the offenders," Ms Vij said.
"[The pelican] actually had some bones sticking out of the wing and the other wing was also broken and it had some fractured ribs and there was blood.
"It didn't sound pretty."
The wanted pair are described as being tall and lean and they got into a blue car with a grey hood.
The penalty for the destruction of protected wildlife is a fine of up to $7,900 or six months in prison.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers or the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning on 136 186.
