A Townsend man has been convicted and fined $1,000 for harming protected fauna. The man, who appeared at the Maclean Local Court on October 10, was placed on a good behaviour bond for 12 months for discharging a prohibited weapon in a national park. He was ordered to pay $500 in costs after pleading guilty to offences that occurred in August 2016 within Yuraygir National Park, near Brooms Head. The man admitted he had killed three eastern grey kangaroos to use their meat as bait for his commercial eel fishing business National Parks and Wildlife’s (NPWS) executive director, Robert Quirk, said the court’s decision sends a clear reminder that killing wildlife without a permit will not be tolerated and that discharging a prohibited weapon in a national park is a serious offence. “Wildlife is protected throughout NSW and national parks are places the community expect native animals to be safe from hunting,” Mr Quirk said. “National parks are places where people expect to visit with families and friends, safe from the risk of  illegal firearm use. “People should report incidents involve harming of wildlife or other illegal or suspicious activity in national parks to the NPWS 1300 072 757 or Crime Stoppers.”