750 Koalas Culled in Victoria by Helicopter

[Black Orchid]

Snipers in helicopters have shot more than 700 koalas in the Budj Bim National Park in western Victoria in recent weeks. It’s believed to be the first time koalas have been culled in this way.

The cull became public on Good Friday after local wildlife carers were reportedly tipped off.

A fire burned about 20% of the park in mid-March. The government said the cull was urgent because koalas had been left starving or burned.

Wildlife groups have expressed serious concern about how individual koalas had been chosen for culling, because the animals are assessed from a distance. It’s not clear how shooting from a helicopter complies with the state government’s own animal welfare and response plans for wildlife in disasters.

The Victorian government must explain why it is undertaking aerial culling and why it did so without announcing it publicly. The incident points to ongoing failures in managing these iconic marsupials, which are already threatened in other states.

https://theconversation.com/sniping-koa ... ull-254996

What the ... ???

Joeys have been left starving and terrified. What the hell is wrong with Victoria?

Nothing on the news. I got an email about it then had to search online.

If they are injured and starving why aren't they being captured and taken to a sanctuary hospital instead of shooting them from a helicopter? Koalas? This is just NOT acceptable!

[tllwd]

The terrain doesn't look too inaccessible so no excuse about choppers.

kls.gif

[mellie]

For once I'm speechless.

[Black Orchid]

I just watched a segment on tv about Koalas. Their population has declined by 80% in the last 20 years from destruction of habitat, urban expansion, Chlamydia etc.

If something isn't done they will be extinct by 2050.

And Victoria is shooting them from helicopters?

[Bobby]

I just watched a segment on tv about Koalas. Their population has declined by 80% in the last 20 years from destruction of habitat, urban expansion, Chlamydia etc.

If something isn't done they will be extinct by 2050.

And Victoria is shooting them from helicopters?

The poor creatures.

I wish they could do a better job of looking after them -

maybe relocate as many as possible to somewhere that has many eucalyptus trees.

[Black Orchid]

There are over 700 species of Eucalypt but Koalas only eat about 40 of them and their food source is continually being destroyed.

[mellie]

There are over 700 species of Eucalypt but Koalas only eat about 40 of them and their food source is continually being destroyed.

I just don't understand how they managed to get permission to begin with. Seems this current government of ours can't do anything right, and where were the Greens when this was happening?

[Bobby]

There are over 700 species of Eucalypt but Koalas only eat about 40 of them and their food source is continually being destroyed.

I thought they were incredibly valuable if sold for zoos overseas?
It seems to me that money could be made by capturing them and selling them?

[mellie]

There are over 700 species of Eucalypt but Koalas only eat about 40 of them and their food source is continually being destroyed.

I thought they were incredibly valuable if sold for zoos overseas?
It seems to me that money could be made by capturing them and selling them?

No because our government would be accused of poaching our wildlife then, furthermore tourists, especially Chinese tourists adore koalas, and many visit Australia just to see them up close. So If we sold off our most sort after tourism then they wouldn't come. They'd buy their own and wouldn't bother visiting Australia at all.

I have a theory as to why the snipers were tasked with killing our koalas and it's not because they were starving to death or malnourished, burnt etc.

Can't use land that's home to Koalas, so what's the solution?
Kill the resident wildlife so animal activists can't argue that it's a vital habitat for wildlife.

Problem solved.

It simply doesn't make sense, remember, noone was meant to find out, it was supposed to be a secret culling spree.

How many other culling sprees have occured that we don't know about?

Someone wanted that land for something, a mine or water reservoir perhaps? Wind farm even?

Great practice for shooting criminals caught in the act though I guess.

Great practice for SAS military personnel also.

Practice for what I hear you ask?

For when Australians learn the truth about their civil rights being stripped from them and begin rebelling against the government.

I don't believe their lame excuse, because it's more efficient and cost effective to go in on foot and assess/kill them at close range, or relocate them to various wildlife sanctuary's or suitably vegetated areas.

Plenty of Australian wildlife enthusiasts would have adopted a koala had they been given the opportunity.

The government didn't want people asking why they intended to remove them to begin with, so behind Australians backs, they did the unspeakable, and still, nothing is being said about the matter, not even here in Victoria.

The key to this mystery is the stealth manner they went about doing it.

Who's idea was it?

Who aproved the culling?

Who were involved aka deployed to do the job?

What other animals were targeted if any?

When exactly, is this the first time something like this has been done?

Remember, if a shooter can kill a koala from a helicopter, then they wouldn't have a problem shooting a human dead in the same manner should the perceived need arise.

Would declining numbers of our wildlife prove to climate sceptics that Climate Change really is on our doorstep, that it really is a thing afterall?

" oh no, Koalas are dropping like flies, global warming must be real afterall."


We need to demand answers.