article: Two French backpackers who filmed themselves torching a native Australian quokka have been released from prison. Thibaud Jean Leon Vallet, 24, and his cousin Jean Mickael Batrikian, 18, pleaded guilty to animal cruelty after footage emerged of the pair lighting the quokka on fire with an aerosol can and a lighter on Rottnest Island on April 3. The pair appeared before Fremantle Magistrate's Court last Friday and were ordered to pay $4000 and were told that they would be held behind bars for seven days if they fail to pay the fines. Scroll down for video . The two French tourists charged with setting fire to a quokka have been released from jail after spending a week behind bars . The French men opted to serve the seven days in Hakea prison rather than pay the fine, as they did not have sufficient funds. A Department of Corrective Services spokeswoman said that the week long sentence was considered the equivalent of the fine, and that it had been served in full, reported WA Today. The men were released at 11.30 am on Thursday morning after entering the jail, in Canning Vale, Western Australia on Friday. According to Corrective Services, the two French men cost taxpayers $1810 each day they were in jail, despite the fact that the pair had saved over $12,000 between them in their working holiday employment as cleaners, reported The Esperance Express. The creature survived the incident by scampering away, but was singed by the flame . Animal rights activists have claimed that the pair's punishment was too lenient for their crime . Using a deodorant can and lighter, the men torch the defenseless creature which quickly scampers away . Animal rights activists have claimed that the pair's punishment was too lenient for their crime. 'It was pretty disgusting,' said Peter Murphy from Quokka Rescue. 'I don't think the sentence is enough. I think they got off quite lightly.' The video of the crime was played in court on Friday, and Magistrate Elizabeth Langdon labelled the act 'outrageous', reported The West Australian. In the disturbing footage of their crime, both men are heard laughing uncontrollably after igniting the quokka before one said 'Don't do that, why?' The creature survived the incident by scampering away, but was singed by the flame. The magistrate was told that Vallet and Batrikian were remorseful for their actions, and that they admitted the incident was stupid and juvenile. The men can be heard uncontrollably laughing after igniting the native Australian creature . The quokka is a small wallaby and resembles a diminutive version of the kangaroo with thick brown fur . Magistrate Langdon commented on their cruelty, calling the offence 'abhorrent.' 'One can only imagine the impact caused to the quokka,' she said. 'Obviously it would have been fearful as a result of what occurred.' The men told Fairfax Media outside court on Saturday, 'you think we're monsters? We didn't hurt the quokka. We have pets at home.' Both men were on a working holiday and were spending three months in Rottnest Island working as cleaners. As a result of the incident, both men lost their job. They also had their passports confiscated and are expected to be leaving Australia soon. The quokka, classed by the government as 'vulnerable', is a small wallaby and resembles a diminutive version of the kangaroo with thick, rough, grey-brown fur. It is found only in the south-west of Western Australia state and on the offshore islands of Rottnest and Bald.
highlights: Video emerged showing two French tourists torching a quokka .
  Footage sees men laugh after igniting the creature with aerosol and lighter .
  The men were given the choice of paying $4000 or spending a week in jail .
  The pair were released from jail on Thursday after choosing the latter .
  The stay cost taxpayers $1810 a day despite them having $12,000 savings .
  Animal rights activists have said that the punishment was too lenient .
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