Man who filmed himself mowing down emus caught

An Australia-wide hunt for a man who allegedly mowed down emus on an outback road and posted the disturbing footage online has ended with charges being laid by Victorian police.

The video showed a man with a moustache, laughing as he counts each emu he runs over, before turning the camera on his own face.

“It’s distressing, it's very distressing,” RSPCA’s Cheryl Doudle told 9NEWS.

“Even for seasoned inspectors you don’t often see something like that.”

Three possible suspects had been identified in South Australia, NSW and Victoria by the RSPCA as the organisation issued a national plea to find the man.

This afternoon Victoria Police announced a 20-year-old man had been charged on summons with animal cruelty and traffic offences.

The alleged incident took place on Pellaring Road at Cowangie in the Victoria's northwest, close to the SA border between September 1 and 20.

The Cowangie man will be charged on summons with animal cruelty, animal torment, destruction of protected wildlife and traffic offences.

He is due to face Ouyen Court on November 9.