( CNN ) Two people , one of them a licensed greyhound trainer , have been arrested in Australia after at least 55 dog carcasses were found dumped in Queensland bush , according to Australian media reports . Two Bundaberg residents , a 71-year old man and a 64-year old woman , were each charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm , broadcaster ABC reported . The woman , a licensed trainer , was also charged with obstructing police . Michael Beatty , spokesman for RSPCA Queensland , told ABC that inquiries were continuing . The animal rights organization is assisting Queensland police in their investigation . `` A lot of people in the area who were involved in the greyhound industry were questioned , and it was as a result of information given to us that the joint Queensland Police Service and RSPCA investigation team made those arrests , '' he said . At a press conference Thursday , Queensland Police Minister Jo-Ann Miller described the discovery of the carcasses , which followed a tip-off from a member of the public , as sickening . `` What I believe has happened here has been the mass murder of 55 greyhounds outside of Bundaberg , '' she said . She promised a zero tolerance approach to animal abuse . `` The people who have perpetrated this crime , to me , are oxygen thieves , they are cowards and they are pathetic . '' Detective Superintendent Mark Ainsworth said the crime scene was `` nothing short of abhorrent . '' `` Some of the greyhounds were in different states of decay and that would sort of indicate to us that they 've been dumped there over varying periods of time , '' he said . `` The postmortem will reveal the cause of death of these dogs . However I will comment that a number of spent .22 cartridge shells were found in the vicinity . '' He said there had been a number of bushfires in the area surrounding the dumping site , which would also be factored into the investigation . Beatty said it appeared the dogs would have been culled by people involved in greyhound racing . `` There 's always been a lot of wastage in the greyhound industry , '' he said in a statement . `` The indications are that these may just be young dogs that did n't have the speed , basically . But that 's really all we know . '' Australia 's greyhound racing industry has been under intense scrutiny since a television investigation revealing the illegal use of live bait in training dogs aired in February . The investigation , on the ABC network , showed footage of trainers fixing live possums , piglets and rabbits to lures to be chased and mauled to death by dogs , prompting a wave of bans and suspensions from the sport . Australians wager AU $ 4 billion ( $ 3.03 billion ) a year on greyhound racing , according to the ABC report . Ainsworth said the Queensland police had established a joint taskforce with the RSPCA to investigate the industry in the wake of the report . `` We 've not even tipped the iceberg as yet , '' he said , appealing for those involved in the industry to come forward . `` You know who you are , you know what you 've been involved in , and now is the time to stand up and be counted , '' he said . `` It will only be a matter of time before we get around to knocking on everyone 's door . '' Racing Queensland did not respond to a request for comment . CNN 's Chieu Luu contributed to this report .
Australian police have arrested two suspects after the discovery of 55 greyhound bodies in bushland . They believe the bodies were dumped by people involved in the lucrative greyhound racing industry . The industry has been under fire since a television investigation revealed live executions and other abuses .