An investigation is under way into the alleged killing and starvation of koalas in south-west Victoria after several animals were put into veterinary care on Friday.
The environmental group Friends of the Earth said a koala “massacre” had occurred during the logging of a bluegum plantation near Cape Bridgewater.
The Victorian environment minister, Lily D’Ambrosio, said she was “appalled” by the reports.
According to the animal activists, hundreds of koalas were killed or injured during logging activities.
“A logging harvest was completed in late December 2019, where reports came in about the plight of hundreds of starving koalas,” Friends of the Earth says.
“A couple of days ago people apparently witnessed the bulldozing of many dead koalas into slash piles.”
The Project
(@theprojecttv)“Look at the destruction they’ve done and there’s koalas lying there dead. Mothers killed and only little babies. Australia should be ashamed of this.” pic.twitter.com/tq40N04zrN
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning said it was extremely concerned about reports of animals showing signs of starvation and injury. It confirmed that an investigation was ongoing.
“If this is found to be due to deliberate human action, we expect the Conservator Regular to act swiftly against those responsible,” a department spokesman said.
“DELWP was onsite on Friday. A number of animals were removed and were assessed and are now being cared for by local rehabilitation volunteers.”
Lily D’Ambrosio MP
(@LilyDAmbrosioMP)The Conservation Regulator is investigating the circumstances that lead to this incident. There are significant penalties for killing, harassing and disturbing wildlife and additional penalties for animal cruelty. (2/2)
Killing, harassing or disturbing wildlife can attract a penalty of up to $8,000 and an additional fine of more than $800 per head of wildlife.
“We need to understand: did this occur, were the spotters in place, and will the mandatory reporting be followed,” said the shadow attorney general, Edward O’Donohue. “It’s deeply disturbing, the report of numerous deaths of koalas, particularly on the back of the bushfires.”
Koalas are at risk of being listed as endangered after the bushfires, with habitats lost across Australia.
