International Student Handed 18 Month Probation For Throwing Echidna Off Two-Storey Bridge

The Australian RSPCA is fuming after a student was handed a sentence of just 18 months probation for throwing an echidna off a two-storey bridge.

The court was told Zhenbo Gao was hunting for small animals like lizards in Brisbane last year when he came across the prickly creature.

The international student admitted to dropping it off the building 'out of curiosity' and to see how it would 'handle it' and proceeded to throw rocks at it even after it essentially fell to its death. What he wanted to do was essentially tire the animal out so it would be easier to take home.

The 24-year-old also took numerous photos of the animal during this whole ordeal.

The statement of facts listed during the court case read: "The findings of the autopsy indicate that the echidna died from blunt force trauma and would have endured significant pain and suffering, as well as fear and terror, in the process."

His defence lawyer told the court that Gao never meant for the echidna to die.

In addition to the 18 month probation, he's been sentenced to 140 hours of community service and banned from owning an animal for five year.

The RSPCA's Tracey Jackson said outside the hearing: "Sometimes we have to question 'what exactly do you have to do to an animal to end up in jail."