The owners of Australia’s last remaining commercial ostrich farm hold fears for 20 chicks that were stolen over the weekend.
The theft appeared to be “planned and targeted”, according to Hastings Ostrich Farms owner Michael Hastings.
Hastings said most of the chicks were younger than two weeks old and claimed the stolen birds were in “grave danger.”
The theft occurred between Sunday night and the early hours of Monday at the farm in Winchelsea, on Victoria’s Surf Coast.
“We have had some people enter the building and remove the chicks over the Easter long weekend,” Hastings told 9News.
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“These young birds will grow two feet a month and because of that, they need the correct nutrition and care.
“I do hold fears that they won’t be looked after properly.
“I have no idea what the motivation would be to remove them.”
Victoria Police are investigating.
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