Wed Apr 30 03:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Over 700 Koalas Shot From Helicopters in Australian Cull

**Melbourne, Australia –** A controversial cull of over 700 koalas in Budj Bim National Park, Victoria, Australia, has sparked outrage among wildlife groups. The aerial shooting, reportedly the first of its kind for koalas, was conducted in recent weeks following a bushfire that damaged approximately 20% of the park in mid-March.

The Victorian government justified the cull, citing concerns about koala starvation and injuries resulting from the fire. However, the lack of public announcement prior to the cull and questions surrounding the method have drawn criticism. Wildlife experts raise concerns about the accuracy and potential suffering inflicted by shooting koalas from helicopters at distances of 30 meters or more. They argue that the method doesn’t allow for proper assessment of injuries or the presence of joeys in pouches. The possibility of injured but not killed koalas is also raised.

The government maintains the remote and damaged terrain of the park necessitated the aerial approach, but critics point out that alternative methods, such as delivering supplementary food, were available and could have prevented starvation.

While koala populations in Victoria are currently considered secure, high densities in fragmented habitats, known as “habitat islands,” like Budj Bim, can lead to overgrazing and starvation. The proximity of commercial blue gum plantations, which attract and then potentially strand koalas, is also implicated.

Legal scholars Liz Hicks and Ashleigh Best, writing in *The Conversation*, highlight failures in managing the koala population, arguing that the incident reveals flaws in both emergency response plans and habitat management. They advocate for improved disaster response strategies, including the establishment of specialized wildlife rescue organizations similar to South Australia’s SAVEM, and increased habitat preservation and connectivity to prevent future mass culls. The lack of transparency surrounding the cull and its execution is a central point of contention, leading calls for a full explanation from the Victorian government.

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