Environmentalists Criticise Victoria’s Decision to Cull Up to 750 Koalas

Up to 750 koalas shot after a devastating bushfire ripped through Budj Bim National Park.

A baby koala is seen at Wild Life Sydney Zoo in Sydney, Australia, on Oct. 14, 2021. Mark Evans/Getty Images

As the ash settles over Budj Bim National Park in western Victoria, a controversial operation to cull up to 750 koalas has sparked outrage among wildlife advocates.

Helicopter-based snipers have been deployed over the past month to euthanise koalas left injured, starving, or dehydrated after a bushfire tore through over 2,200 hectares of bushland.

Authorities argue that euthanasia is necessary to prevent prolonged suffering among koalas in an already overpopulated and resource-strained ecosystem.

But critics say the method is inhumane, poorly monitored, and reflective of long-term policy failure in managing koala populations in Victoria.

Low Likelihood of Survival

The operation is believed to be the first time Victoria has used aerial shooters to manage a koala population.

According to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), the approach was adopted due to rugged terrain, fire-damaged trees, and the remote location of many animals high in the canopy.

“Since early March—as soon as it was safe—specialist staff have been working with experienced vets, wildlife carers, and animal welfare experts to respond to wildlife directly impacted by the fire within the park,” James Todd, DEECA’s chief biodiversity officer, told The Epoch Times in a statement.

“Animals are being assessed for their injuries and health, and where possible are being given care or rehabilitation so they can recover.”

However, Todd added that “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.”

He said the goal was to minimise suffering and that koalas are being assessed as close as operationally viable—often at less than 30 metres—with support from binoculars and optical aids.

A ground-based vet also confirmed that all koalas euthanised during an aerial trial were in extremely poor condition.

Environmentalists Call for Transparency and Science

Environmental groups, however, say the state’s response lacks transparency and long-term planning.

“We need to get a proper scientific approach into why this over-browsing has happened,” Anthony Amis, board member of Friends of the Earth, Melbourne, told The Epoch Times.

Amis raised concerns about the practical and ethical implications of aerial culling.

“The koalas are being shot, but are they being killed outright? What happens when the koalas fall out of the trees and now their babies are involved? Are there joeys in pouches, or are they young that are on their mother’s backs?” he said.

“To shoot from helicopters and not to deal with what is happening on the ground when these animals fall out of the trees … they could be left to die of horrible wounds. Our organisation is quite disgusted, actually.”

He also suggested the government’s decision was financially motivated.

“The government claims the land is hard to access due to sinkholes and rugged basalt terrain … but they’re doing this to save resources. It’s total overkill,” he said.

In response, the DEECA said the method was not chosen lightly and was developed with input from independent veterinarians and wildlife welfare experts.

The department maintained that ground-based assessments were not feasible due to safety risks and difficult access conditions.

Long History of Overpopulation and Habitat Pressure

Amis noted that the situation at Budj Bim is a consequence of years of koala overpopulation, mismanagement, and habitat disruption.

“There’s a very complicated history with koalas in Victoria,” he said. “There have been issues with over-browsing and overpopulation for over 25 years. The government has tried sterilisation in the past, but not to this extent.”

The proliferation of blue gum plantations in the region has exacerbated the issue.

“Hundreds of thousands of hectares were planted out, which attracted thousands of koalas. But now those plantations are being logged, and the koalas have nowhere to go,” he said.

This has likely caused an influx of displaced koalas into Budj Bim, compounding the already high population density—estimated at up to 1.5 koalas per hectare—and creating a dire shortage of food sources like manna gum.

However, DEECA said its existing management programs at Budj Bim include health checks, fertility control for healthy females, and euthanasia on welfare grounds for koalas with poor body condition, disease, or injury.

“Every effort is being made to assess and, where possible, rehabilitate wildlife,” the department said.

An invasive species control program is also underway to protect the remaining habitat from further pressure.