Animal rights organisation PETA has asked the South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport to erect a roadside tombstone memorial for road-related chicken deaths.

The request comes after an August 24 truck crash on the South Eastern Freeway near Mount Barker which killed thousands of chickens on board. Those that didn’t die were later euthanised due to smoke inhalation and respiratory issues.

The organisation also released a mock-up of what the tombstone memorial might look like. “In Memory of the Chickens Who Suffered and Died at This Spot,” the plague reads.

PETA spokeswoman Aleesha Naxakis said, “We think that this would let people know that the best way to prevent incidents such as this one is to go vegan, which would help eliminate the terrifying trips to abattoirs chickens are forced to make.”

According to Adelaide Now, a State Government spokeswoman said the department would issue a statement to PETA in due course.

“The department has received correspondence from PETA requesting a roadside memorial in relation to this incident (and) a response … will be prepared by the department,” she said.

“Any roadside monument containing organisational branding would generally be considered an advertising sign rather than a memorial, and would therefore likely require development approval from the local council.”

In other words, PETA’s goose is cooked.