The Koala Alliance organisation has released its offical response to the aerial shooting of koalas at Budj Bim National Park last year.
A report from the Koala Alliance says 1061 koalas were shot in the operation which took place after bushfires hit the park.
The shootings were authorised by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Change (DECCA), with the government agency calling it humane euthanasia.
“In each case, this was the most humane action to relieve the pain and suffering of fire-impacted koalas and is supported by advice from wildlife experts and experienced vets,” a statement from DECCA said.
The report from the Koala Alliance questions these measures, stating it believed there was only one vet, an experienced wildlife carer and a foster carer deployed on site.
“The suggestion that a single veterinarian and a carer could assess the health of 2219 koalas, mainly from a helicopter and determine they were beyond recovery is simply not plausible,” the report stated.
The report also called into question what the Koala Alliance believes was a lack of public disclosure, including no photographic evidence of widespread animal suffering.
The report included a stinging assessment from specialist koala ecologist Dr Stephen Phillips of the role played by DECCA.
“Anyone who had a role to play in sanctioning the actions that were undertaken should be removed from your position of
gilded authority,” Dr Phillips said.
“And – if such a thing is even possible in Victoria – prosecuted to the full extent of the law for animal cruelty”.
