French tourists who burnt native Australian animal choose jail term over fine

Two French tourists who filmed themselves burning a quokka, a native Australian marsupial, have each chosen to accept a seven-day jail term, which is expected to cost Western Australian taxpayers thousands of dollars.

The men, Thibaud Jean Leon Valette, 24, and his cousin Jean Mickael Batrikian, 18, were found guilty of animal cruelty charges on Friday, after they burnt the animal with a lighter fuelled by a deodorant can.

The men had the choice of spending the week in a low-security Western Australian prison, or paying a 3,100 U.S. dollar fine each.

The tourists chose the short jail term, which means they would be able to continue their overseas trip to Southeast Asia once released.

The pair had been working in on Rottnest Island as cleaners in order to fund their ongoing travel.

But locals are upset that the pair have been given very lenient sentencing, and they have not been given adequate punishment for their thoughtless crime.

According to Western Australia's Corrective Services, the duo's jail term would cost WA taxpayers up to 450 U.S. dollars per day.

Peter Murphy from Quokka Rescue told Fairfax media the severity of the crime has been undermined by the lax sentencing, and that the 3,100 U.S. dollar fine, which would have severely hampered their travel plans, would have sent a stronger message.

"It was pretty disgusting," he said on Tuesday.

"I don't think the sentence is enough. I think they got off quite lightly."

Quokkas are small, native marsupials found almost exclusively on Rottnest Island, 20 kilometers from Perth.

They are regarded as very friendly creatures, often allowing tourists to take close-up photos with them.

Quokkas are a protected species, with only 7,850 thought to be left in the wild. Endi