‘Out of control’: Alarm raised as up to 750 koalas shot from helicopters

Wildlife advocates have raised the alarm after hundreds of koalas were shot from helicopters in a national park in Victoria’s west.

Wildlife advocates have raised the alarm after hundreds of koalas were shot from helicopters in the state’s west.

State environment officials said the aerial shooting operation to euthanise the native animals was because many were badly injured during a bushfire in March, and that many were sick, dehydrated or starving.

As many as 750 koalas were believed to have been killed in Budj Bim National Park, south of Hamilton. The ongoing operation began about a month ago.

But one wildlife carer told the Herald Sun that the department was “out of control” and blamed years of mismanagement on the koalas’ current plight.

Up to 750 Budj Bim koalas have been euthanised in the past month. Picture: Rachelle Patterson

“What can you say about this, what can you do?’’ the frustrated carer said.

Another advocate said: “The helicopters are still flying, as is the bull***’’ in reference to the department’s justification for its actions.

It’s believed to be the first time aerial shooting of koalas has been conducted in Victoria where the airborne method is used for deer and horse culls.

Concerns were raised about the welfare of pouch-young left in koala carcasses.

Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell said the inaccessible nature of the park meant follow-up checks to inspect for viable joeys was not possible.

“No efforts are being made to check, when you’re blasting koalas from helicopters, to see if they have pouch-young.’’

State Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell has raised concerns about the euthanasia operation. Picture: Supplied

Ms Purcell said she did not dispute the circumstances where the loss of food, water and habitat meant that euthanasia was the only humane option.

“I would question the method as it’s unreliable.

“And shots can be non-fatal and just increase suffering.’’

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action chief biodiversity officer James Todd said koala overpopulation in Budj Bim was an ongoing issue in the park.

“Due to direct impacts of the fire, the poor health and low likelihood of survival of many animals due to the ongoing drought conditions and lack of food post-fire, many of the animals are requiring euthanising.

“This is the humane action to take to prevent further suffering.’’

The department said this decision to employ aerial shooting was not taken lightly and that it had been discussed with an independent vet and wildlife welfare ethics experts.

Wildlife Victoria chief executive Lisa Palma said she was “deeply saddened’ by the impact on the koala population.

Lisa Palma, CEO of Wildlife Victoria said she was ‘deeply saddened’. Picture: Supplied

“The tragic reality is that bushfires often lead to substantive loss of life and suffering and the most compassionate course of action for wildlife suffering severe burns and injuries is often euthanasia,,’ Ms Palma said.

“While Wildlife Victoria has been briefed in detail on the situation by DEECA, we have also requested that myself and our senior veterinarian have the opportunity to go on site for observation and we are awaiting a response.’’

Carers said the harvesting of bluegum plantations in recent years had forced many resident koalas to flee into the Budj Bim park where their numbers were not sustainable even before the most recent fires.

Premier Jacinta Allan on Friday defended the decision to shoot koalas from the sky.

Ms Allan said the bushfire had caused “a lot of hurt and injury to a range of different wildlife” and the decision to mass cull koalas was made after “extensive assessments”.

“After an examination of the circumstances ... this approach was deemed the way to really recognise the koalas were in a lot of distress,” she said.

‘That’s the advice that I have received. In terms of those assessments, they are made by wildlife experts because it is about recognising in this instance, particularly, the koalas were severely injured and in a lot of distress.”

Originally published as ‘Out of control’: Alarm raised as up to 750 koalas shot from helicopters