A mother and son walking around a Melbourne lake saw two men brutally stomping and kicking a pelican until it was left near-lifeless on the ground.
The bird suffered multiple breaks to its wings and ribs and had to be euthanised after the July 18 attack in St Albans, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning says.
Wildlife Victoria officer Naomi Carr, who was called in by the council to assess to bird, said it was so badly beaten and lifeless, the rescuers thought it was dead.
"We realised it was still alive and breathing, so we whisked it off to the vet," Ms Carr told AAP on Monday.
"But the breaks wouldn't have healed well enough for rehabilitation, so the decision was made to humanely euthanise it."
Ms Carr said it was a "disgusting act of cruelty on a beautiful animal" and hoped someone saw something and would come forward.
DELWP said the "completely senseless act of violence" happened in broad daylight in a suburban street.
"This is unacceptable and we want to find the people who did this," DELWP wildlife officer Suriya Vij said.
"Cruelty against defenceless animals is a disturbing behaviour that can escalate to other violence."
Anyone with information is urged to call CrimeStoppers or DELWP.
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