Forest industries have reacted with universal anger and completely condemned the senseless koala deaths uncovered by a nature group on a private property in Western Victoria. Source: Timberbiz
“All those who work in our forest industries join with the community in appalled shocks at what appears to be a callous act of animal cruelty,” AFPA CEO Ross Hampton said.
“We support all those calling for the full force of the law to be applied to the perpetrator.
“Koalas are prevalent in many of our plantation forests and providing feed for koala populations is one of the great benefits of having plantations whilst the trees are growing. When time comes to harvest the plantation trees, forestry operators scrupulously and meticulously follow koala preservation procedures overseen by the Department of Environment in Victoria.”
The Victorian Government is investigating after dozens of distressed, injured and dead koalas were found at a blue gum plantation near Cape Bridgewater in Victoria’s south-west.
Portland resident Helen Oakley, 63, first raised the alarm with authorities last week after hiking in the area and finding the dead koalas, some of which had been there for days.
Ms Oakley told the ABC she had found 10 dead koalas at the property since Wednesday and said dozens more live koalas were trapped in two isolated stretches of gum trees on the property.
Mr Hampton said drones and human spotters were routinely used to find all koalas in logging areas. Trees where koalas were resting were left untouched enabling the animals to move to another part of the plantation when the activity moves away.
“I’m advised that the operators in this case were so careful that they even took an injured koala which they found during inspection to the vet,” Mr Hampton said.
“I’m advised harvest of this area ended in November and the land was handed back to the owner before Christmas.
“It is unclear as yet who bulldozed the trees with the koalas apparently still in them, but it is absolutely certain that this was not a plantation or a forestry company. We support all those calling for the full force of the law to be applied to the perpetrator,” Mr Hampton said.
“AFPA will be launching its own investigation. Furthermore, we will be ensuring that none of the timber which has been cleared is touched by any AFPA member.”
Plantation companies must apply for authorisation to disturb koala populations under the Wildlife Act.
They are also required to undertake risk assessments that identify potential hazards to koalas from plantation management operations, including stress, injury, exposure, and death.
Companies are required to develop a department-approved koala management plan in order to protect animal welfare. The process includes checking koalas in trees and on the ground for unusual behaviour.
