The decision to cull hundreds of koalas in the Australian State of Victoria has caused horror and outrage. 

Around 700 of the marsupials were killed, with the Victorian Government hiring snipers to carry out the cull from helicopters. 

On The Pat Kenny Show, Australia-based journalist Aisling Moloney explained why officials took the “quite shocking” decision. 

“Australia takes such pride in its native animals and wildlife,” she said. 

“In some parts of Australia, koalas are actually endangered. However, in Victoria they are in abundance. 

“So, there are often cullings of koalas but what is really unusual in this case is how they did it. 

“They went up in helicopters with shooters who shot the koalas in order to cull them.” 

We simply must save the koalas 🐨🥺

In 2022 the Australian government listed the koala as endangered following a decline in numbers in Queensland, New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory due to land clearing and catastrophic bushfires shrinking its habitat. pic.twitter.com/mzswv8s6gx

— Bank Australia (@bankaust) April 15, 2024

Australia has suffered from a number of severe bushfires in recent years. 

After a fire in Budj Bim National Park, many koalas were injured and a significant number of the manna gum trees they rely on as a food source were burnt to a crisp. 

State officials reluctantly decided euthanasia was the most humane choice. 

“There were koalas who were injured, some were burned, some had smoke inhalation,” Ms Moloney said. 

“During the bushfire, their food source was burned, so they are at risk of starvation. 

“So, that’s why the State Government said that they had to carry out this cull - it was for animal welfare reasons. 

“Essentially, to stop the pain and suffering of these koalas - this is their justification for it.” 

'How on earth would you be able to tell?'

Victoria’s chief biodiversity officer James Todd said the decision “not taken lightly” and all koalas were individually assessed before they were earmarked for culling. 

Despite these assurances, animal rights activists question whether the accuracy of such assessments.  

“[State officials] say that it’s justified for a koala to be culled if they have lost a hand or digits, if there’s burns to more than 50% of their body,” Ms Moloney said. 

“If they have pneumonia from smoke inhalation, they become blind from their injuries or they have an injury requiring surgery. 

“The animals have said how on earth would you be able to tell all of that from 30 metres away flying up in a helicopter?” 

Estimates of the number of wild koalas range from 100,000 to half a million.

Main image: Koalas. Picture by: Alamy.com