Four Perth men have been charged with the torture and killing of two kangaroos using a number of weapons, with one of them also accused of torturing a chicken.

Warning: This story contains content that may be distressing for some readers.

The men, aged in their 20s from Perth's northern suburbs, are accused of being involved in two incidents which senior police described as the most disturbing acts of animal cruelty they have ever seen.

It will be alleged on May 19 this year, a small kangaroo was burnt, shot with a firearm and kicked before being held by a man and punched a number of times with knuckle dusters.

It is further alleged on June 16, 2018 another kangaroo was stabbed repeatedly with a knife before it was kicked in the head.

The accused men include 22-year-old Dylan Leslie Griffin from Bullsbrook, 28-year-old Ricky Ian Swan from Aveley, 26-year-old Ben Jaydon Malpuss from Woodvale and 26-year-old Luke Kevin Dempster from Wanneroo.

Ben Jayden Malpuss appeared in Joondalup Magistrates Court after being charged with animal cruelty. ( ABC News )

They have each been charged with cruelty to animals and possession of things intended to inflict cruelty.

Accused have bikie links: police

All four men were granted bail on a $10,000 surety after appearing in Joondalup Magistrates Court, on the condition they report to police and do not associate with each other or with any members of the Outlaws motorcycle gang.

Mr Griffin is accused of shooting the kangaroo in the eye on May 19 while others held it down.

The kangaroos were allegedly killed by men using weapons including knives and a rifle. ( ABC News: Toby Hunt )

Police unsuccessfully opposed his bail on the grounds of him being a potential flight risk, given he moved to WA from Victoria 12 months ago.

They also said there were firearms and other weapons involved in the alleged incidents which remained unaccounted for and posed a potential risk to public safety.

Police told the court while the 22-year-old had handed himself in, he had not been cooperative, and said it could be due to his association with an outlaw motorcycle club.

Police asked the magistrate to note that Mr Griffin and his co-accused were each sporting severe black eyes, suspected to have been sustained at the hands of motorcycle gang members.

Chicken allegedly placed on fire

Mr Dempster is facing four charges of animal cruelty after being charged over a separate case involving a chicken.

Luke Dempster is also accused of using a paintball-style firearm to assault people in Craigie. ( Facebook: Luke Dempster )

"It is further alleged on 31 March 2018, he tortured an adult chicken by placing it on a fire fuelled by accelerant," a police spokeswoman said.

"A small explosive device was detonated causing injury to the chicken."

Mr Dempster appeared in court earlier on Friday on a separate matter and also had a large black eye.

He was charged with using a "gel blaster" paintball-style firearm to assault members of the public in Craigie on September 4.

Police did not oppose bail for Mr Malpuss, saying he played a lesser role in the animal cruelty offences than Mr Griffin.

Mr Malpuss is also accused of taking part in the "gel blaster" offences with Mr Dempster in Craigie.

Mr Swan's charges stem from the second alleged cruelty incident on June 16, when he is accused of stabbing the kangaroo more than 20 times.

Police shocked by videos on phone

Detectives discovered two videos as well as a Snapchat video of the alleged animal cruelty involving the kangaroos, along with a number of photographs, after seizing a mobile phone in another investigation earlier this month.

Police released images of the men found on footage of the alleged attacks. ( Supplied: WA Police )

Speaking on Wednesday, Joondalup Police Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Giuffre said the footage was very distressing.

"I've seen the videos and honestly, in my 17 years of policing, it's one of the most disturbing things I have seen, hands down," he said.

"It's graphic, it's disturbing, it's cowardly."

In the footage, shown to members of the media on Wednesday, a number of men can be seen watching and participating in the alleged cruelty.

At one stage during one of two videos recorded on May 19, the phone appears to be dropped momentarily, revealing one man's face.

The ABC has decided not to publish heavily blurred versions of the footage released by police.



Joondalup Detectives said they wished to thank members of the public who assisted with the investigation after an appeal for help.