A Woonona man who blew up an echidna with fireworks has escaped with a $1000 fine because the animal was already dead.Police said that because an act of cruelty on a living animal had not been established, the 31-year-old escaped with a penalty notice for negligently handling explosives.The weekend incident sent shockwaves across the state after the mutilated body of the echidna was found in a Woonona backyard.Fireworks had been attached to the animal's back with electrical tape and then ignited.Wollongong police responded to triple-0 calls reporting loud explosions in the vicinity of the Princes Hwy at Woonona, just before 6am on Saturday. After canvassing the area, officers were directed to a Campbell St residence where they said they found the dead echidna, fireworks, a lawn mower catcher and fuel can.A call for public assistance in identifying a silver sedan seen in the area at the time resulted in the apprehension of the 31-year-old at a second Woonona address about 2pm the same day.Sergeant Simon Kierse said the man told police he found the echidna dead on Picton Rd and brought it home with the intention of burying it."It appears he had a change of course," Sgt Kierse said.Meantime, National Park and Wildlife Service officers are continuing their search for a protected black duck shot through the neck with a 60cm arrow. Rangers were called to the University of Wollongong on Friday after staff found the duck with the arrow through its neck and extending out the front of its beak.NPWS ranger Jamie Erskine said the bird evaded capture by flying off in the direction of the Wollongong Botanic Garden.He said the duck was suffering considerably and was unable to eat or swallow."Unfortunately, it is unlikely to be caught until after it is too weak to fly and by then it may be too late," he said.Illawarra Archers secretary Linda McAdam said the arrow appeared to be one used by hunters as opposed to recreational archers."It looks to be a metal arrow with a metal tip on it," she said.People did not need a licence to own a bow and arrow, she said.NSW RSPCA Chief Inspector David OShannessy deplored any act of animal cruelty."It's very concerning that there are individuals capable of horrific acts of animal cruelty and that these people are living amongst us in the community," he said.Recent changes to the Crimes Act meant the maximum jail term for serious cruelty to animals has been increased from two to five years. Offenders faced a $11,000 fine or six months' jail if dealt with under the NPWS Act for harming a protected species.