Birds slaughtered, animals missing after Australia zoo break-in

SYDNEY – A media report says nine birds have been slaughtered and dozens of animals are missing after a break-in at an Australian zoo.

Australian Broadcasting Corp. says vandals cut the locks on several bird, wallaby and monkey enclosures during a rampage at a zoo in the southern island state of Tasmania late Thursday or early Friday.

ABC reported Saturday that about 60 birds and animals were missing, including two rare swift parrots.

Workers at the private Tasmania Zoo found nine birds with their heads crushed or torn off.

ABC quoted zoo owner Dick Warren as saying: "They just caught them and banged their heads and pulled their heads off, and it was pretty sickly to see."