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Koalas are among Australia’s most recognizable and beloved symbols, particularly in New South Wales, Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory. There, they’re considered an endangered species. Despite this status, a group of snipers has been killing hundreds of koalas from helicopters in Budj Bim National Park, a vast natural reserve located in Southern Australia. The Australian government is said to be backing this operation, reportedly as a “humane action.”
The question is: Why?
Snipers, helicopters, and koalas. These concepts may seem unrelated at first glance. However, they’ve become the focal points of a controversy that has erupted in the Australian state of Victoria, where Budj Bim National Park is situated. Local media recently reported that hundreds of koalas were being euthanized in this area.
The news wasn’t only surprising but also heartbreaking, especially when it was revealed how the killings are carried out. Snipers shot koalas from helicopters. According to ABC, Australia’s Department of Energy, Environment and Climate (DEECA) purportedly approved the aerial shooting.
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How many koalas have been killed? The exact figures vary depending on the source, but the campaign seems to have killed hundreds of koalas, totaling more than 500.
Earlier in April, Yahoo! News reported that between 600 and 700 marsupials had been killed. Activists claim that the number may exceed 700, while other media outlets estimate the figure to be up to 750.
Why? According to local authorities, the culling is justified on humanitarian grounds. The culls are part of an euthanasia campaign prompted by a bushfire in March that devastated around 5,400 acres of Budj Bim National Park. The fire is said to have affected local wildlife, including koalas, and destroyed 20% of the nature reserve. Many animals were injured and abandoned, while there was also a significant loss of eucalyptus trees that serve as their food source.
Are there any alternatives? Using helicopters and snipers may seem conspicuous and unorthodox. However, the local government says this decision was made after “extensive assessments.” Authorities claim the koalas being shot are “in a lot of distress” because of the bushfire. Moreover, DEECA explains that it hasn’t found alternatives to address the problem beyond hiring professional shooters and deploying them via helicopter.
“All other methods which have been considered are not appropriate given the inability to safely access large areas of impacted landscape by foot due to the remote location of animals often high in the canopy, the extremely rugged terrain, and in consideration of the safety risks of working in a fire affected area, with fire impacted trees,” DEECA chief James Todd told Vox.
What do activists think? The culling of koalas has ignited intense controversy in the state of Victoria and even beyond Australia.
Australia’s Animal Justice Party has criticized local authorities for not checking whether the females being shot from the air have cubs. Meanwhile, the Koala Alliance has raised concerns that technicians lack the means to determine from high above whether the specimens they target are genuinely in “poor condition.” Koala researcher Rolf Schlagloth agrees: “Rescue should always be the first option if feasible.”
Beyond gunfire and helicopters. For activists and experts, the culling of koalas isn’t the only issue causing concern. Some have pointed to the events in Budj Bim as another example of “mismanagement of the species and its habitat.” They also warn about the impacts of eucalyptus logging and the threats posed by global warming and fires.
“We can’t eliminate bushfires altogether but more continuous, healthy forests can assist in reducing the risk and severity of fires. Koala habitat needs to be extensive and connected and the management of blue gum plantations needs to consider the koala as these trees are very attractive to them,” Schlagloth added.
Logging on the horizon. According to The Conversation, commercial blue gum plantations surround Budj Bim National Park. These plantations are filled with foliage that attracts koalas searching for food. This abundance of leaves leads to increased populations of koalas.
However, once the plantations are cleared, koalas return to the protected park. This results in increased pressure on the area and greater vulnerability to fires. According to animal welfare groups, logging could be one reason why Budj Bim had so many koalas.
Image | Nghia Nguyen
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