Alarm as koalas in national park shot from helicopters following devastating blaze

Yahoo

15-04-2025

Victorian authorities have made the difficult decision to use aerial and ground-based shooting to 'euthanise' koalas in a national park following a devastating bushfire. Around 2,200 koalas are understood to have been assessed, and approximately 600 – 700 have been euthanised due to concerns about injuries and access to food. That number is expected to climb.
The blaze was sparked by a lightning strike in early March at Budj Bim National Park in the state's remote northwest, scorching 2,200 hectares. Concerned about the welfare of wildlife, Victoria's department of environment (DEECA) assessed the landscape and found it will likely be inaccessible for weeks. Its primary concern was that koalas could have been left to unnecessarily suffer and die, prompting the decision to visually assess unreachable animals via helicopter instead.
Because the canopy has been burned away, DEECA maintains its 'highly skilled professionals' are able to hover over the koalas to get a clear line of sight.
'An experienced vet has assessed the situation and has recommended this approach as the most humane. The approach has been made in consultation with leading animal welfare experts nationwide,' a DEECA spokesperson told Yahoo News.
While large brumbies and deer are routinely shot in Victoria and NSW from the air, Yahoo understands it's not a common way of euthanising injured koalas. Utilising the method has sparked some alarm among animal welfare advocates, with many saying more scrutiny of the program is needed and that the public should have been informed earlier.
With bushfires likely to become more severe and frequent due to climate change there are fears aerial culling could become more commonplace.
Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell told Yahoo News she understands the need to euthanise injured koalas, however she has concerns about aerial shooting.
'I think absolutely everybody should be alarmed at the method being used. Aerial shooting programs are known to be unreliable ways to appropriately kill animals using a single shot, and it can lead to further injuries that result in ongoing suffering,' she said.
'Given this is happening in a remote area away from public view, it can be really hard to assess whether or not it was the right method. It would have been my preferred option if they consulted with other groups who might have put in the time and the effort to individually euthanise the koalas instead of blasting them from a helicopter in the sky,' she added.
Lisa Palma, the CEO of Wildlife Victoria told Yahoo the priority for Wildlife Victoria in all cases is that the animals are humanely euthanised.
'Whatever method of euthanasia is utilised for wildlife impacted by bushfires, our strong view is the method must have optimal welfare as its primary focus. That would mean a fairly instant and humane euthanasia,' she told Yahoo.
Wildlife rescuer Jessica Robertson said the euthanasia method had left her 'gobsmacked'. 'My mind is blown. How could they possibly ethically euthanise a koala from a helicopter?'
In a statement, DEECA said it is doing its utmost to ensure the koalas are humanely euthanised.
'Reducing the amount of suffering being endured by wildlife is the overriding priority with this course of action,' a spokesperson said.
'All other methods are not possible given the urgency of the situation, the remote location of animals, the extremely difficult and dangerous terrain and in consideration of the safety risks of working in a fire affected area.
'The burnt canopy cover has provided clear visibility and allows the helicopter to hover at tree level permitting a clear line of sight.
'Operations are delivered by highly skilled professionals and protocols are in place to confirm death to the best of the crew's ability. An accredited agency aircrew member is also in the aircraft to ensure safe and compliant operations.'
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