Teen who vaped black swan in Mandurah avoids jail, gets community order

A 16-year-old boy in Western Australia avoided jail after pleading guilty to causing unnecessary harm to a black swan by forcing it to inhale vape fumes, receiving a four-month youth community order. The magistrate condemned the public backlash against the teen as "deplorable." The boy, who cannot be identified, was arrested after videos circulated online showing him and another boy abusing a swan in Mandurah on July 26. The court heard he acted to get a Snapchat "streak," and his lawyer said the behavior was a "stupid impulsive thing to do," though it "doesn't in any way excuse the behaviour." The boy's family withdrew him from school due to community outrage, and he has undergone psychological counselling. Magistrate Andree Horrigan called the conduct "cruel, unnecessary and harmful," noting swans mate for life, and warned the boy to "grow up and mature" or face re-sentencing.