Latest news with #goldfish
CBC
6 days ago
- Science
- CBC
Massey Drive's Link Pond is littered with hundreds of goldfish
News of an invasive fish species taking over Link Pond in Massey Drive brought the Department of Fisheries and Oceans on site to investigate. Macgregor Parent, a DFO aquatic invasive species co-ordinator, says what was first thought to be dozens of animals was actually hundreds of goldfish.
News.com.au
10-07-2025
- News.com.au
Aussie man charged after allegedly eating live fish in Petbarn
A 20-year-old man has been charged after allegedly walking into a pet store in Sydney and eating a goldfish from its tank while live-streaming on social media. Just after midday on Sunday, police responded to a call from Petbarn in Castle Hill, about 30 km northwest of Sydney's CBD, following reports of a man behaving strangely after entering the shop. NSW Police told that officers attended the scene and were told that a man had allegedly entered the store, taken a live fish from a tank, eaten it whole, and then left. Bizarre move after cruel fish act Police allege he was lifestreaming on Discord at the time, which was initially a platform for gamers but is now used by content creators to stream everyday videos. Before eating the fish, the man allegedly said 'This is for Donald Trump,' according to The Daily Telegraph, who referred to the man as 'the goldfish gobbler'. In a bizarre turn of events, police say the man reportedly left the store before returning a short time later to pay for the $8 fish. Following an inquiry by The Hills Police Area Command, the man was charged with committing an act of cruelty upon an animal and behaving in an offensive manner. Petbarn says incident was 'deeply distressing' A spokesperson for Petbarn told that it was a 'deeply distressing incident for our team'. 'Our store team immediately contacted NSW Police, who responded swiftly and have charged an individual with a number of offences. We are grateful for their prompt and professional action,' they said. 'Our team members were understandably very shaken by what they witnessed and have been offered counselling and support. At Petbarn, the welfare of animals is our number one priority. 'Any act of cruelty towards animals is unacceptable and completely contrary to the values we uphold as a team and organisation committed to responsible pet care and wellbeing. 'We trust that the relevant authorities will take appropriate action in accordance with the law.' PETA responds PETA Asia Senior Vice President Jason Baker told 'Swallowing a live goldfish wasn't a social media stunt, it was a deliberate act of cruelty against a sentient animal capable of feeling fear and pain.' 'PETA urges anyone rightly disturbed by this incident to also consider the trillions of fish killed for food each year — often in equally violent, terrifying ways.' Penalties for animal cruelty In New South Wales, animal cruelty carries significant penalties. People convicted of cruelty to animals can face a maximum fine of $44,000, one year in jail, or both. The man will appear in Parramatta Local Court on August 20.
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Aussie man's cruel act in a Petbarn 'in the name of Donald Trump'
A young man who allegedly swallowed a live goldfish 'in the name of Donald Trump ' later returned to the store to pay for the $8 red and white comet. The 20-year-old walked into a Petbarn in Castle Hill, over 30km northwest of Sydney 's CBD, just after midday on Sunday. NSW Police said officers received a call saying the man had entered the store, removed a goldfish from the tank, swallowed it whole, and left. He was reportedly livestreaming on the gaming platform Discord at the time. The young man reportedly yelled 'this is for Donald Trump' before he swallowed the fish, the Daily Telegraph reported. Workers who claimed to have witnessed the act said they heard a 'crunch noise'. In a shock twist, the man returned to the pet store and paid for the goldfish. Following an investigation, the 20-year-old was charged with committing an act of animal cruelty and behaving in an offensive manner. In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, a spokesperson for Petbarn said that it was a 'distressing' incident for the workers. 'Our team members were understandably very shaken by what they witnessed and have been offered counselling and support,' the statement read. 'At Petbarn, the welfare of animals is our number one priority. Any act of cruelty towards animals is unacceptable and completely contrary to the values we uphold as a team and organisation committed to responsible pet care and wellbeing. 'We trust that the relevant authorities will take appropriate action in accordance with the law.' NSW Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst condemned the 'extreme act of cruelty'. 'Fish are sentient living beings that can experience pain and fear, and there is no doubt this goldfish would have suffered terribly,' she said in a statement. 'What kind of pathetic individual goes to such extreme lengths just to try and get some attention on social media? 'He should be given a lifetime ban immediately on all social media platforms for promoting acts of animal cruelty.' Hurst welcomed the charges by NSW Police, noting that NSW is the only state with laws against such conduct. 'I'm glad to see the police taking action. People found guilty of animal cruelty face fines of up to $44,000 and/or one year imprisonment,' she said. 'Such an act could also be considered to be the production and distribution of animal crush videos - an offence that only exists in NSW, and is punishable by up to five years imprisonment. 'We will be watching this case closely and hope it sends a strong message to the community that filming cruel and thoughtless animal cruelty videos for social media in a desperate attempt to get attention could land you in jail.' He is due to appear at Parramatta Local Court on August 20.
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Five bizarre words man uttered about Donald Trump before allegedly eating a live GOLDFISH in a pet store - as staff member reveals their horror: 'I heard him crunch on it'
A man has been charged after he allegedly walked into a pet store and ate a goldfish in front of shocked staff and customers. The man allegedly said 'this is for Donald Trump ' before eating the live red and white comet goldfish in Sydney 's Castle Hill Petbarn at 12pm on Sunday. Police allege the 20-year-old had been on a Discord video call at the time and that the incident was part of a social media stunt. The man then left the store before returning a short time later to pay for the $8 fish he allegedly consumed. An investigation was quickly launched to find the man after staff raised the alarm. NSW Police have said they are taking the matter 'seriously due to concerns around animal cruelty and public decency'. The man has since attended Castle Hill Police station and is now assisting officers with their inquiries. Despite the seriousness of the situation Castle Hill Police chose to refer to the man as the 'goldfish gobbler' in a follow-up statement released after he was found. NSW Police subsequently charged the man with animal cruelty after alleging he ate the red and white comet goldfish as part of a social media stunt (pictured, stock) Staff in the store said the man displayed no hesitation before putting the fish in his mouth and biting down. 'He swallowed the whole thing in front of me … I heard him crunch on it,' they told the Daily Telegraph. 'He walked straight over to the tank, picked it up and ate it,' another alleged. The man has been charged with committing an act of animal cruelty and behaving in an offensive manner. He will appear in Parramatta Local Court in August.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Infamous New York City sidewalk aquarium is back but heat wave sparks concerns fish will boil
A viral community aquarium in a Brooklyn neighborhood that was paved over by city authorities, has been resurrected by residents – once again drawing criticism from animal rights activists, who say the fish will boil to death in the New York summer heat. Pictures shared online show a new glass tank containing around a dozen goldfish, which has been planted in a shallow pit next to the pond's original site, with the project's co-founder insisting the new attraction still has the backing of the community. However, the new tank, which was reportedly put up on Saturday, is now at the mercy of a summer heatwave in New York. The mercury is set to sit in the mid-to-high 90s this week and even rose to a scorching 100F (37.7C) on Tuesday. Gemma Vaughan, PETA's Captive Animal Case Specialist, told The Independent that the new lodgings for the tiny residents was a 'recipe for disaster.' 'Certainly the side of the street is, is no place right for for a tank using animals,' she said. 'They're at the mercy of anyone walking by.' Vaughan highlighted that the tank already appeared cramped and 'murky,' indicating the presence of bacteria, and the rising temperatures, both of which would be dangerous for the fish. 'One goldfish requires 25 gallons (of water) and then additional fish requires additional gallons, but they're required to stay between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. So being outside in these high temperatures is certainly contributing to some stress and possibly health risks,' she said. Last summer PETA described the project as 'inhumane' and called for the fish to be liberated. 'There are so many better ways to beautify your neighborhood that don't involve harming helpless animals,' Kristin Rickman, PETA's Emergency Response Team Director, said at the time. 'In this current heatwave they most certainly will die. It will be a painful death,' Kathy Nizzari, founder of the animal welfare group Lights Out Coalition, told The New York Post. The first iteration of the aquarium was shut down by the New York City Fire Department in October, leaving dozens of goldfish dead after the puddle was emptied. The hole was then paved over. However, the project's co-founder, Je-Quan Irving, said that the second iteration is up to code and that several city agencies had said the project would be allowed because it was no longer underground. He and other volunteers plan to continue maintaining the project despite the heat. 'I'm just happy they wanted us to keep pushing through and have it come back,' Irving told The Post. His co-founder, Hajj-Malik Lovick, has since been convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to 12 years in prison in an unrelated case. Lovick previously told The Independent 'It's all for the kids. ... And it helps the parents too. If their mom says 'We're gonna go see the fish,' that's why they get up to go to school.' He reportedly used the Bed Stuy aquarium as a defense in his case, with his attorney telling the judge the project demonstrated that he was a caring father and community man.
