At least four koalas have died from injuries sustained during a planned burn at Portland

A bushwalker stumbled on critical and dead koalas that suffered horrifically during a planned fuel reduction in the south-west. Warning: Disturbing pictures.

A female koala died from injuries sustained during a planned burn at Portland. Picture: Friends of the Earth

The government department responsible for two koalas being burnt alive during a planned burn in south-west Victoria last week is “disappointed”.

At least two koalas were burnt alive after Mount Richmond National Park was ignited during a fuel reduction burn near Portland last week.

Along with the deceased female and young male koalas, two others were discovered in the vicinity with severe injuries.

The alarm was raised with wildlife advocates after the koalas were discovered by a walker.

An emotional rescuer who is familiar with the situation, but who declined to be named, has seen the scene with her own eyes.

“There are dead koalas lying on the ground, completely burnt,” she told Leader.

It is believed the injured koalas would have been in excruciating pain for days before help arrived.

The rescuer said both injured koalas were dehydrated, “very stressed” and vocalising their pain. One had severe burns to its feet while the other’s fur was all scorched and it was “really cold and shivering in a tree”.

Both were euthanised on Sunday due to the extent of their injuries.

A koala, with singed ears, clings to a tree near the fireground. Photo: Supplied

The rescuer added that the fire had burnt all the canopies and trees and questioned if the fire had “gotten away” to the area the koala population was living.

Adding to the distress is the fact rescuers can see other koalas potentially in need of help, but they can’t be reached.

“We can see other koalas in the burnt area but it’s too dangerous to go onto the fireground because it’s still smouldering and there are holes in the ground, so it’s not safe for us to go in there yet,” she said.

The area is also home to other native animals, including ring tail possums, sugar gliders, kangaroos and birds.

The 317-hectare fire was lit by Forest Fire Management Victoria, staffed by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, off the Mount Richmond - Bridgewater Track on Monday, May 23.

The fuel reduction burn was conducted over two days and was designed to reduce the fuel loads and hazards in the landscape, as well as invasive Coastal Wattle.

It is believed the koala population was flourishing in the area before the fire, with piles of koala scat visible under some of the bigger trees—raising further questions about how the koalas were missed.

Two years ago more than 70 koalas died at Cape Bridgewater.

The rescuer told Leader koalas in the wider Portland area were booming because of ”mismanagement” but were under pressure from the region’s industries, including timber harvesting, and it was common to see orphaned koalas or adults “starving to death”.

While koalas are listed as endangered in New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory, they are not in Victoria or South Australia.

A female koala died after being caught in the fire. Photo: Friends of the Earth

Wildlife rescuers and advocates have long called for scientific data to be collated, with growing concerns about the impact of habitat loss due to logging and development, pushing koalas into urbanised areas where they are hit by cars and attacked by dogs.

“It’s just sickening to think there’s nothing positive being done. Koalas across Australia have all got a common denominator – they’re suffering at the hands of humans and at the hands of industry.

“It’s a national disgrace.”

Friends of the Earth spokesperson Anthony Amis questioned what processes were in place to minimise the impact of prescribed burns on wildlife.

Western Victorian MP Andy Meddick contacted Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio early on Monday morning.

“I find it very hard to believe every effort was undertaken in terms of these koalas,” he told Leader on Monday.

“That’s why I’ve called on the minister to halt any subsequent burning until an investigation is held into what has gone wrong here.

“It is my understanding there were very clear signs of a koala population there before the burn was undertaken so every effort should have been made to do a population count and to move the koalas out of the danger zone.

“But it seems that has not occurred.”

He said this legally should have occurred before the planned burn was ignited, as part of a Koala Management Plan.

He also called for independent rescuers to be allowed into the zone to rescue the remaining koalas, check for injuries and relocate them to a safer area if they are healthy enough.

On Tuesday a Department spokesperson said investing in risk reduction strategies, like planned burns, was vital to “protect the community and our precious environment”.

“Expert wildlife officers conduct checks before and after planned burns and are on site during the burn,” they said.

They said protection measures were implemented prior to delivering a burn, which included checking the perimeter prior to ignition and protecting several trees within them to provide “safe escape corridors”.

“We are disappointed we did not identify all koalas in this instance and are undertaking a review.”

They added that crews had identified “only two deceased koalas and seven healthy koalas”. It is not clear if these are the same koalas located by rescuers.

The spokesperson said DELWP’s Chief Fire Officer would meet with stakeholders to discuss the burn and the outcome.

Leader also understands rescuers, along with Mr Meddick, will be able to tour the fire ground and make suggestions about how to prevent this from occurring again.