Koalas Found Dead on Australia Logging Plantation

Dozens of koalas have been found dead or injured at a timber plantation in the Australian state of Victoria. Blue Gum Trees were harvested from the plantation in December, which was an important koala habitat. After the harvesting, only a few trees were left, while the rest were bulldozed down, leaving the Koalas without a home. Some koalas starved to death in the trees that were left, others were killed by the bulldozers. About 80 of the koalas that survived the death of their habitat are now being cared for in sanctuaries, Zoos and certified care takers. Koalas are now listed as “vulnerable” by Australia’s Environment Ministry, meaning on the break of making the extintion list.

The deaths of these koalas came after tens of thousands were killed in the fires in Australia. An animal protection group, called Animals Australia said that they sent teams to the site to save as many koalas as they could. No one knows which company is behind the logging yet. By law, logging companies must provide koala ‘spotters’ to identify koalas and safely remove and relocate them. About 30 of the 80 koalas saved from the site have been euthanized. Under the Wildlife Act, killing, harassing, or disturbing wildlife could attract a penalty of up to $8,000 and an additional fine of more than $800 per head of wildlife.