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Thousands of koalas were reportedly killed during the deadly bushfires in Australia, and now, dozens of the poor animals were found dead and injured at a logging plantation in Victoria.
The plantation reportedly harvests blue gum trees, which are the houses of Koalas.
But due to the logging facility, only a small amount of trees were left in the area, which left the koalas without proper shelter.
According to experts, the koalas that were found at the logging plantation may have died by starvation or by machinery such as bulldozers.
Around 80 surviving koalas were rescued from the plantation, and are currently being taken cared for by a group.
According to the Friends of the Earth Australia, hundreds of cases of starving koalas were reported in December 2019 after the trees were logged.
On February 1, 2020, the Friends of the Earth Australia released a statement about the incident, where they said, “According to our local sources hundreds of koalas may have been killed or injured during logging activities this week alone. Apparently, the land in question was owned by Australian Bluegum Plantations, whose lease expired in 2016. The plantation was apparently taken over and logged by South West Fibre, a joint operation between Midway and the Japanese company Mitsui. Apparently, after logging, the land was handed back to a private landholder.”
The statement added, “A logging harvest was completed in late December 2019, where reports came in about the plight of hundreds of starving koalas, whose habitat had been logged by the plantation company. A couple of days ago people apparently witnessed the bulldozing of many dead koalas into slash piles.”
After the koala massacre, the Animals Australia have launched an investigation into the deaths of the poor animals.
In a number of tweets that were made by the Animals Australia, an animal charity, they said, “By law, the companies that own these plantations must provide koala ‘spotters’ to identify koalas in trees before logging commences, so that animals can be safely removed and relocated. There is also a legal responsibility to ensure the welfare of koalas after logging has ceased.”
They added, “We are still gathering the details as to what has occurred in this case but it would appear that there are various breaches of legislation, including the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, which we will be supporting authorities to pursue.”
The logging companies that are involved in the logging of the trees reportedly followed the protocol in regards to the koalas.
But animal activists and groups say that not everything was done to protect the animals.
Helen Oakley, a local resident, said koalas are lying in the logging area dead.
Helen added, “There are koalas lying there dead. Mothers killed and their little babies. Australia should be ashamed of this. We need help.”