There is so much silly spin and contradictory nonsense speak when it comes to trying to justify the killing of native wildlife in Australia, we are adding a new section to some stories. Welcome to Gobbledygook.

In December 2023 the Nature Knowledge Channel makes yet another visit to Budj Bim National Park and we locate one Koala. We are told by staff at Lake Condor that if we want to see Koalas, we should go to Tower Hill.

This from the Victorian Government 5 December 2023 and to the west of Melbourne:

“The Conservation Regulator is aware of community concern regarding a population of Koalas near the Gordon township. Translocation of wildlife can cause significant stress, injury and potential death to wildlife. That is a key reason the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action generally does not support translocation of non-threatened species. It was also a key factor in the Conservation Regulator decision not to issue a permit to translocate Koalas at the Gordon site. The alternative, leaving the Koalas in place during and after plantation harvest, allows them to stay or move naturally to their preferred location”.

The outcome, of this yet again appalling conduct by the Victorian Government and its refusal to allow the translocation of Koalas from the Gordon plantation, was always obvious. The outcome is precisely as we had expected it to be, Koalas struck and killed by motorists as they crossed the freeway (motorway) in attempted to escape the destruction of their habitat.

This is how the Victorian Government does not ‘stress’ Koalas.

“We recently partnered with local traditional owners to complete a second Koala health and fertility control programme across Budj Bim… Our wildlife officers partnered with traditional owners and Zoos Victoria vets during the programme”. Victorian Government DELWP now DEECA Barwon South West

Budj Bim National Park, 14 December 2022: A total of 93 Koalas were captured and underwent health checks over the six-day period. Of those checked, 58 were female and 35 male, with 34 healthy females fertility controlled. Given the over browsing occurring in some areas, unfortunately 28 koalas were assessed by experienced veterinarians to be in poor health and were humanely euthanised to prevent further suffering.

Budj Bim National Park, 9 - 22 May 2022: A total of 125 Koalas were captured and underwent health checks over the two-week period. Of those checked, 68 were female and 57 male, with 49 healthy females, fertility controlled. Given the over browsing occurring in some areas, unfortunately, 30 Koalas were assessed by experienced veterinarians to be in poor health and were humanely euthanised to prevent further suffering.

The Koala story in Victoria is a shocking one, The killing done amidst dubious claims that the species is thriving in the state, while it is endangered in other eastern states.

The largest Victorian Government Koala kill we know of occurred in 2013 and 2014 at Cape Otway. Despite efforts at secrecy from the Government, we all became aware of what was being done.

“Wildlife officials did three euthanasia sweeps to kill 686 Koalas in 2013 and 2014, in a covert campaign that was designed to avoid any backlash from green groups and the community”. Melbourne Age, March 2015

Since that time it appears that there have been several killing events, but at smaller scale.

Our frequent visits to Western Victoria, where there is a significant wood chip industry, included discussions with Alcoa’s (Portland Aluminium) media staff, at first quite open, and then closed down. So information is very hard to get. This is what we know and as reported by Michael Dahlstrom, the environment editor of yahoo!news under the headline 152 koalas killed in private forest by US company.

“The marsupials (152 Koalas) were destroyed under the supervision of independent experts during a series of checks undertaken since 2019 by the US-owned industrial giant. Over that time 348 were assessed and 79 females were given fertility control. The company now plans to encourage 120 Koalas living in forest near the smelter to relocate, bringing to an end ongoing concern about Koalas becoming sick from fluoride emissions”.

We might ask what has happened to 120 Koalas which were to be relocated?

Analysing what we can find out with others who have significant knowledge about Koalas, it appears that the Victorian Government’s ‘Koala health checks’ now result in a killing rate as high as 30 per cent of the Koalas they are removing from the tree tops. These ‘health checks’ prior to 2022 appear to have resulted in a killing rate of below 17 per cent with an average killing rate of 9 per cent from nine ‘health checks’ prior to 2022, including Cape Otway, where greater numbers of Koalas were checked.

“Koala populations in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory are listed as endangered under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Koalas are not endangered in Victoria but like all wildlife in Victoria, are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975 (Wildlife Act). The welfare of all animals is also protected under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986. These Acts refer to offences for disturbing, harming, possessing or destroying wildlife without the appropriate authority”. Victorian Government

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