Close to 700 koalas have been killed off by authorities in southeastern Australia because overpopulation led to the animals starving, an official said Wednesday, sparking claims of mismanagement.
Victoria state Environment Minister Lisa Neville said the koalas were euthanised around Cape Otway near the scenic tourist drawcard the Great Ocean Road, in 2013 and 2014, with a caravan site owner saying the whole area "smelt like death" before they were put down.
"The intervention was necessary to prevent suffering of koalas because they weren't able to find enough food," Neville said in a statement.
Neville said 686 koalas were found to be in poor health and were humanely killed by veterinarians in consultation with koala experts and animal welfare personnel.
The minister said she was seeking expert advice on how to manage the issue and wanted to be open with the community on the process, but has not ruled out further similar operations.
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4 comments:
Are they good eating? Open a hunting season on them.
DUH?
9:13 Yes they are. They taste like a cross between a panda and a spotted owl.
They need to sign up for food stamps. Where are their social workers?
They aren't overpopulated. They are under populated but face a better competitor for food in the rabbits that rich aryan euro trash brought to the island so they could have hunting parties. It is the white man who has destroyed the earth.
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