Emu chicks killed, pot crop found in SA

Three teenagers deliberately killed eight emu chicks and were growing cannabis in a South Australian national park, police say.

Eight emu chicks were deliberately killed by a group of teenagers growing cannabis in national parkland, South Australian police say.

They say the males, aged 16, 17 and 18, ran over the baby birds and did burnouts in the Port Lincoln National Park on February 12.

The investigation into the deaths also uncovered 30 cannabis plants in two locations within the park.

All three males, from Port Lincoln, have been charged with aggravated ill treatment of an animal, cultivating a commercial quantity of cannabis, introducing cannabis to a National Park and misuse of a motor vehicle.

The youngest teens were released on bail to appear in Port Lincoln Youth Court on March 7.

The 18-year-old was released on bail to appear in Port Lincoln Magistrates Court on March 30.