Outcry over orphaned joeys after Australia shoots hundreds of koalas from helicopters

“State authorities are facing a backlash over the aerial culling of hundreds of koalas in Victoria, Australia, as animal welfare groups raise concerns about the fate of their orphaned joeys.

The cull in Budj Bim National Park of around 700 koalas so far has left many joeys without mothers, animal rights groups say. Activists are now demanding an independent review of the government’s handling of the operation. …”

First I had heard of this, in my e-mail this morning.

There must be a better way, surely.

The Rev Dodgson said:

Outcry over orphaned joeys after Australia shoots hundreds of koalas from helicopters

“State authorities are facing a backlash over the aerial culling of hundreds of koalas in Victoria, Australia, as animal welfare groups raise concerns about the fate of their orphaned joeys.

The cull in Budj Bim National Park of around 700 koalas so far has left many joeys without mothers, animal rights groups say. Activists are now demanding an independent review of the government’s handling of the operation. …”

First I had heard of this, in my e-mail this morning.

There must be a better way, surely.

well, you cant shoot them from the ground, because they are solid bastards and hurt when they fall on you.

The Rev Dodgson said:

Outcry over orphaned joeys after Australia shoots hundreds of koalas from helicopters

“State authorities are facing a backlash over the aerial culling of hundreds of koalas in Victoria, Australia, as animal welfare groups raise concerns about the fate of their orphaned joeys.

The cull in Budj Bim National Park of around 700 koalas so far has left many joeys without mothers, animal rights groups say. Activists are now demanding an independent review of the government’s handling of the operation. …”

First I had heard of this, in my e-mail this morning.

There must be a better way, surely.

Relocation has worked before.

You would have to be a damn good shot to hit a koala when they are sitting up high in a waving tree.

?

They are still classed as Vulnerable, there’s fewer than 100000. Is there some more information about why the cull is happening?

dv said:

?

They are still classed as Vulnerable, there’s fewer than 100000. Is there some more information about why the cull is happening?

11 minute ABC radio report about it here:

DEECA begins aerial culling of koalas

dv said:

?

They are still classed as Vulnerable, there’s fewer than 100000. Is there some more information about why the cull is happening?

Land developers and rightwing nut jobs hate them.

Bubblecar said:

dv said:

?

They are still classed as Vulnerable, there’s fewer than 100000. Is there some more information about why the cull is happening?

11 minute ABC radio report about it here:

DEECA begins aerial culling of koalas

Does seem to be a weird decision.

I mean koalas receiving bushfire injuries is just par for the course. Shooting 600 of them that may or may not be injured does not seem a sound conservation method.

roughbarked said:

dv said:

?

They are still classed as Vulnerable, there’s fewer than 100000. Is there some more information about why the cull is happening?

Land developers and rightwing nut jobs hate them.

“There is no way they can tell if a koala is in poor condition from a helicopter.”

Well the sniper may be able to see things symptoms through the scope but if I recall, I watched snipers from helicopters not get the goat cull in the local NP down to anything like manageable. This leads me to believe that horses may be easy enough to shoot from the air but not goats? I doubt they are going to get many. The biggest problem for the koalas is that they sit still, making them steady targets but the trees sway and the helicopter downdrafts wouldn’t help with that.

dv said:

Bubblecar said:

dv said:

?

They are still classed as Vulnerable, there’s fewer than 100000. Is there some more information about why the cull is happening?

11 minute ABC radio report about it here:

DEECA begins aerial culling of koalas

Does seem to be a weird decision.

I mean koalas receiving bushfire injuries is just par for the course. Shooting 600 of them that may or may not be injured does not seem a sound conservation method.

It clearly isn’t.

The story appeared in the Melbourne Age last Saturday:

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/premier-defends-koala-cull-after-bushfire-in-state-s-south-west-20250418-p5lsrs.html

Link

LABOR