Many people are unaware that the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) authorised the helicopter shooting of over 1,000 koalas in Budj Bim National Park. The aerial shooting took place over three weeks and ended on April 25.
No ground-truthing of dead koalas was undertaken, we have no idea whether koalas had back young, or how accurate the shooting was as there has never been any attempt to kill koalas this way in Australia’s history.
The reason for the slaughter? DEECA maintains a wildfire affecting over 2,000 hectares of the park left many koalas burned and/or starving. As well, any access to the burned areas was impossible because the terrain was too rocky.
Koalas were unlikely to have survived for very long after fire, and it was weeks after the fire was extinguished before any shooting began. Field trips after the shooting ended revealed the grounds were entirely accessible. This ugly episode was kept secret until a neighbour heard helicopters going over the park and shots being fired.
Killing koalas from helicopters can’t possibly be accurate, and without any confirmation of death, the Victorian government has carried out an appalling precedent. One that could be followed by other states unless a court ruling prohibits further aerial killing of koalas under any circumstances.
Brunswick Heads-based Australians for Animals Inc. has launched an originating motion for a judicial review in the Victorian Supreme Court. The legal procedure has commenced.
Few people know what the Victorian government perpetrated on koalas. The issue received massive international media and virtually nothing in Australia. Why? It all happened in the middle of a federal election campaign.
If you would like to help raise funds for the lawsuit, or just educate yourself on this outrageous issue, please visit our Facebook page or website at www.australiansforanimals.org.au.
Koalas are suffering dreadfully, the indifference of state and federal governments is bordering on criminal.
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