« It’s totally inhuman »: in Australia, 750 koalas shot down by elite helicopter shooters – Liberation

In the Budj Bim National Park, located in the Victoria region, in southeast Australia, its large round ears and its gray fur are hunted from the air. Elite shooters installed in helicopters have been patrolling since mid-March above the forest in search of the slightest koala, this emblem of the country, as part of a vast animal euthanasia campaign. In total, more than 750 marsupials have already been shot under the supervision of the Ministry of Energy, the Environment and Climate Action (DEECCA), reports Skynews Australia.

These unpublished operations, declared by the government of the State of Victoria, follow a major fire in this area several weeks ago, which ravaged more than 2,000 hectares of forest – mostly eucalyptus, whose leaves make up the basic food of the koalas – and leaving many injured, dehydrated or hungry animals. According to the deeca, the natural park could thus be inaccessible during « Weeks », preventing from rescuing animals. Saving the koalas or assessing their state of health closely was not possible for the authorities « Given the impossibility of accessing on foot in complete safety with large landscape zones impacted, due to the remoteness of animals, often located in height in the canopy, of the extremely rugged terrain », defends a ministry official with Vox.

The Prime Minister of the State of Victoria, Labor Jacinta Allan, therefore made the decision to authorize these shots on the Koalas by helicopters, first operation of the genre, deploring « Tearing choices ». The political leader said that « In -depth evaluations » had been conducted on the spot, leading to the conclusion that the koalas concerned by this measure were « Seriously injured and in great distress ». Unlike other regions in Australia, Koala is not classified as a endangered species in the State of Victoria. He is only a « Protected native species ».

The use of this method, however, aroused shields from animal defense associations. Jessica Robertson, president of the Australian association Koala Alliance, castigates with Liberation An « totally inhuman operation and contrary to ethics ». « They have already killed more than 750, but this figure will continue to increase », She deplores, adding that helicopters are still overlooking Budj Bim National Park.

According to the founder of the association, these « Systematic killings » cannot be a sustainable management solution for Koalas populations, all the more « That there is no way to verify the health of an animal from a helicopter. » « This measure is unprecedented, and it is catastrophic », she adds.

With Herald Sunthe representative of the animal justice party in the state of Victoria, Georgie Porcell, denounced the lack of control before shots and worries that Koalas mothers having « Small in their pocket » May be targeted. « I think everyone should be alarmed by the method used, she alerted. Air shooting programs are known to be unreliable to properly kill animals at once. ”

In parallel, Jessica Robertson points to the erratic management of blue gommiers, a kind of eucalyptus found in the Victoria region. Very present around the Budj Bim park, these plants have the distinction of being « The only places refuges for the Koalas, and these are the only plants they can eat. »

SO« When all these trees were killed in the area next to the park », The Koalas have « Was obliged to move, and that’s why they came to settle in Budj Bim ». This massive displacement of marsupiaux in the park has in fact led to great pressure on the natural resources present, which were later reduced to ashes by the fire at the end of February.

The president of the animal defense association highlights « Decades of mismanagement » on the part of the local government, which, according to her « Never tried to regulate these cultures » And therefore to protect the marsupials by extension. In an attempt « To stem this massacre », The Koala Alliance will put online on Wednesday April 23, a petition to request a total stop of current euthanasia in the Budj Bim National Park.