Overview

• Approximately 700 koalas were culled in Victoria's Budj Bim National Park following a March bushfire that destroyed 2,200 hectares of critical habitat.
• State officials justified the cull as a necessary act of mercy, citing the animals' poor health, severe injuries, and limited survival chances after the fire.
• The aerial method, involving sharpshooters in helicopters, was used for the first time in Australia and has drawn criticism for being untested and lacking oversight.
• Animal welfare groups, including the Animal Justice Party and Humane World for Animals, condemned the operation as inhumane and called for greater transparency and accountability.
• Koala populations have been in steep decline, with fewer than 60,000 remaining in the wild, prompting heightened concerns about conservation strategies.