Tourist pleads guilty after throwing chicken named Betty White into alligator pond

An Australian park visitor has pleaded guilty to removing a chicken from its enclosure and throwing it to death in an alligator-infested pond in January 2024 at Oakvale Farm and Fauna World in Salt Ash in New South Wales .

According to the Australian Associated Press (AAP), the guest – Peter Smith – reached up a concrete rock wall at a farm sanctuary to catch a white Chinese silky bantam chicken named Betty White. He then hid the animal in his shirt as he walked to the alligator enclosure before throwing the beloved chicken into a pond where the reptiles live.

Court documents said that the moment Betty White hit the water, two alligators “immediately moved toward the bird, one of which put the bird in its mouth, killing it immediately.” .

The incident shocked the guests, who immediately informed the staff of what had happened. Park owner Leanne Sansom later found footage of Smith on security footage dispatching the dying chicken and shared it with park employees to find him.

However, days after the incident, Smith reportedly went to Singleton police station to make an official statement, saying he had good intentions. He told authorities he threw Betty White “with the intention of feeding the alligator because of its living conditions.”

Smith’s defense attorney, Bryan Screw, told the outlet that he “just wanted to feed a hungry alligator,” adding that each year, about 750 million chickens are killed. Clé’s comments downplaying his client’s actions did nothing to ease Magistrate Kiralee Perry’s concerns.

“These are serious allegations,” she told Key on Tuesday (September 24), highlighting the fact that Smith now potentially faces the maximum sentence for aggravated animal cruelty in NSW. If Smith is convicted, he could spend up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $24,084.

On November 20, Smith would return to court to stand trial.

“This is the first time in 43 years that a member of the public has (allegedly) engaged in such cruelty in what is an animal sanctuary,” Leanne’s husband and co-owner of Oakvale Farm, Kent Sansom, said. in a press release.

“Betty White was hand-reared in the park and played a crucial role in our endangered breeding program for the curlew and other species by providing surrogacy for the chicks,” he said. he continued.

“Her calm nature means she would not hesitate to approach a customer for animal pellets, making her an easy target for a ruthless attacker.”

Oakvale Wildlife Park was established in November 1979 by Kent’s mother and father, Jeff and Elaine Sansom, who then passed it on to him in 1995. It has remained a family business throughout its 43-year history , offering safe services, educational and fun experiences with nature for all ages.

Across its 25 acres, Oakvale Wildlife Park is home to an endless menagerie of animals, ranging from native to exotic creatures, including koalas, kangaroos, Tasmanian devils, alligators, ostriches and more.