Teen sentenced for animal cruelty involving swan with vape in Perth
Consensus Summary
Two boys, a 16-year-old and a 13-year-old, were involved in an incident of animal cruelty near Perth where they tormented a black swan with a vape and other actions. The 16-year-old was sentenced to a four month community-based order on Thursday after blowing vape fumes into the swan’s beak and later dumping its body in bushland. Both sources agree the incident was captured on video and shared online, with the older boy claiming he was showing off to his younger friend. The younger boy’s sentencing is pending later in September. While both articles describe the cruelty, ABC provides additional details about a second swan involved and the boy’s motivation tied to social media streaks, while 7NEWS emphasizes the timeline of the incident occurring in July and the swan’s body being hidden for two weeks before discovery.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- A 16-year-old boy was sentenced for animal cruelty involving a black swan
- The incident involved blowing vape fumes into the swan’s beak
- The older boy received a four month community-based order
- The incident occurred on a boat near Perth (Dawesville/Endeavour Island/Mandurah area)
- The older boy dumped the dead swan in bushland near a conservation park
- The older boy’s lawyer argued the case should be heard behind closed doors due to public anger
- The sentencing occurred on Thursday
- The younger boy (13) was also involved in the incident
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The incident happened in July
- The younger boy (13) slapped the swan on the head
- The dead swan remained hidden for two weeks before police found it
- The older boy said he was 'showing off to his younger friend'
- The younger boy will be sentenced later in September
- The boy had an 'obsession with earning a Snapchat streak'
- There were two swans involved, not one, with one allegedly slapped and discarded
- The second swan was unresponsive and discarded in bushland
- The boy’s lawyer mentioned the boy was worried the second swan had died
- Magistrate Horrigan described the boy’s behavior as a 'graphic, awful error in judgement' and linked it to swans mating for life
- The boy’s co-accused (13) will face court in September
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- 7NEWS says the incident happened in July, but ABC does not specify a month for the incident
- 7NEWS says the older boy received a 'four month community-based order', while ABC refers to it as both a 'four month community based order' and a 'fourth month community-based order' (potential phrasing inconsistency)
- 7NEWS mentions the younger boy (13) slapped the swan on the head, while ABC says the younger boy allegedly slapped the swan but does not specify the location or force of the slap
- 7NEWS states the older boy dumped the dead swan in bushland, while ABC says the unresponsive swan was discarded in nearby bushland, with police finding a large carcass and black feathers a number of weeks later
Source Articles
Teen sentenced for tormenting swan with a vape south of Perth
A magistrate called the incident, which was shared in a video online, a ‘graphic and awful error of judgement’.
Boy, 16, sentenced for black swan cruelty captured on video
A 16-year-old boy who forced a black swan to inhale vape fumes in a video shared on social media has been sentenced to a fourth-month community-based order.
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