 Protected species found in botanic gardens, suggesting they were caught in a trap and then dumped 
 
 Authorities in New South Wales are searching for a suspected platypus killer after the bodies of three animals were found dumped in the Albury botanic gardens. New South Wales wildlife services have labelled the deaths of three platypuses that occurred within the same month as a "despicable act of animal cruelty." “It is an offence under the National Parks and Wildlife Act to harm native animals and penalties include a fine of up to $11,000 and or six months imprisonment.” 
 
 WIRES volunteers have asked fishermen, canoeists and members of the public to keep a lookout for suspicious activity. Hazel Cook, a spokeswoman for the local branch of the Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (Wires), said rescuers originally thought the first platypus may have been killed by foxes but were now sure they had been killed by a human. A spokesperson for the NPWS told The Huffington Post Australia on Tuesday that a vet's post mortem examination found two of the platypuses "heads were removed with a sharp object," while the third was found dead but intact. “As far as we are concerned it’s not a fox and as far as the vet is concerned it is not a fox,” Cook told Guardian Australia. “NPWS is aware that three platypus were found dead in Albury Botanic Gardens in the last five weeks,” she said. “There’s no waterway running through there, just a council drain. “Even the fact someone caught three of them is concerning.” 
 
 Ms Cook said there was no way to tell if they were alive when their heads were cut off. We still don’t know what they’ve done with the heads.” 
 
 Cook said it was particularly distressing because the platypus keeps to itself and is quiet. “We have no idea why anyone would do that, especially to something as gentle as a platypus. “It’s lovely to see that Australians are so upset about it – we want people to be angry.” 
 
 Cook said there had been other attacks against wildlife in the region in the past few years – kangaroos shot with bows and arrows, and birds of prey shot down over residential areas – but none as brutal as this. A joint investigation team including authorities from the NPWS, Albury City Council and the NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (WIRES) are now looking into the incident and have issued a call out for anyone who may be able to provide any helpful information. “It’s very obvious it’s not a fox.” 
 
 WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGE BELOW 
 
 
 
 Ms Cook said whoever killed the native animals had wanted them to be found. "We are calling on anyone with information to please contact NPWS Tumut office on (02) 6947 7025" 
 
 Swine that is doing this needs to be caught 
 
 Two decapitated platypuses among three killed in Albury https://t.co/5by5BEX3ap via @newscomauHQ — Alan (@Oz566) April 11, 2017 
 
 WIRES Murray River secretary Hazel Cook told the Border Mail on Monday the attack did not involve another animal predator, citing the clean severing of the heads and the cut marks left on the platypuses bodies.
– Wildlife officials are calling it "a despicable act of cruelty to one of Australia's most loved animals." Over the last five weeks, three platypuses have been killed and dumped in a botanical garden in New South Wales, despite the fact that the animal is protected across the country, the Guardian reports. All three, including two that were beheaded, were found in Albury Botanic Gardens, about a quarter-mile from a river where officials believe they may have been trapped. The first was found in early March by a gardener, while the others were found by visitors. A vet has confirmed the latest animal found last Wednesday had its head removed with a sharp object, ruling out an animal attack. "We still don't know what they've done with the heads" but "you can actually see where they've tried to cut into the vertebrae," a rep for the Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service tells the Border Mail. "We have no idea why anyone would do that, especially to something as gentle as a platypus," she adds. Anyone found to have killed a protected Australian species like a platypus, which happens to be the animal emblem of New South Wales, could face up to six months in jail and an $11,000 fine. WIRES, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the Albury City Council are investigating, reports the Huffington Post. (Beheaded animals have also been found in Canada.)