Police officer filmed killing wombat by throwing rocks at its head, laughing about it with friend: 'This is not entertainment'
Disturbing footage making the rounds on social media shows an off-duty officer stoning a terrified wombat to death and then nonchalantly laughing about it with his friend.
The horrifying video of the incident, which took place on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula, shows Waylon Johncock repeatedly throwing rocks at the wombat's head while being encouraged from the sidelines. It was shared by the Wombat Awareness Organization on Facebook with the caption, "Healthy wombat stoned to death by off duty police officer. I am tired of reporting such cruelty for it to be ignored. If this gets your support, something may be done. Please share, this is not entertainment. This has to stop!"
The video starts with Johncock and his friend following the wombat in their car as it ran along a dusty road. The off-duty officer then steps out, shirtless and wearing only shorts and shoes, and starts chasing the animal as the driver tells him to "get up close."
Soon he picks up a large rock and throws it at the wombat's head before laughing maniacally. When it starts running, they take after it, and the driver can be heard yelling, "You've got him, you've got him, hit him, hit him, kill him!"
The driver speeds up to keep the light on the animal, and Johncock delivers the fatal blow with yet another rock. "Yeah! You did it!" the friend exclaims. "First man I've ever seen kill a wombat on foot, bro."
Surprisingly, the stoning of the wombat is not illegal under Australian law and is accepted as traditional hunting under the Native Title Act.
The Wombat Awareness Organization has set up a Change.org petition asking not only for Johncock to be punished, but also for the law to be changed so that wombats are also protected under the Animal Welfare Act. Over 50,000 people have signed it at the time of writing.
Johncock has been working in the South Australian Police Force for 10 years as one of the state's 36 Community Liaison Officers, according to the Daily Mail, and is now a Senior Community Constable based out of a remote community.
South Australia Police confirmed they were aware of the wombat killing incident. "At this time SAPOL can confirm they are taking the situation very seriously and are closely examining the video," a spokesperson said. "An inquiry is being undertaken into this matter to first formally identify the man, and then take appropriate action as required."