A video of man attacking an unsuspecting swan at Lake Wendouree has sparked outrage in Ballarat.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The video, which is believed to have been filmed on Thursday evening, has been shared across multiple social media platforms.
It shows a man sitting in a maroon Ford Falcon near Lake Wendouree, with a swan standing innocently by his car.
The man then appears to take his shoe off and throw it at the swan, striking it in the head.
Watch the video here. Warning: some users might find it distressing.
The person who filmed the video can also be heard laughing.
It is understood the video was originally uploaded to Snapchat, but has since been shared widely on Facebook.
People online have shunned the person in the video.
This is disgraceful, this needs to be reported.
- Facebook user.
Another user said they were in the area at the time, but didn't actually realise what was happening.
"Oh my god, I was literally parked next to them around 7.30 last night and didn't even realise what they were doing," the person posted.
"I did hear them laughing a lot (I was parked on the other side of the car filming), makes me so sick."
The incident follows a push for a 40km/h speed limit around the lake due to a high number of swans being injured and killed by vehicles.
"The sad part is, people don't stop, they don't care, they don't let anybody know," wildlife rescuer Heather Lewis previously told The Courier.
A Facebook user who uploaded the video to Facebook told The Courier she had reported the incident to police.
Anybody with information is urged to contact the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning on 131 186.
Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.