Australia’s western Victoria Environment Minister Lisa Neville recently admitted that the state killed as many as 700 Koalas, in an attempt to control their population.
The killings took place during the years of 2013 and 2014 at the hands of wildlife officials. Neville told reporters that the koala population is “a very challenging and complex issue” and added that the killings were “humane and effective”.
“It is clear it’s an overpopulation issue and it is clear that we have had koalas suffer in that Cape Otway area because of ill health and starvation. That’s just not good enough and that’s a terrible way to treat koalas. I’m wanting to make sure that we’re taking the best action we can in this terrible situation of overpopulation,” she said.
It would seem that killing koalas is a terrible way to treat them as well, but the Minister says that there are no other options available.
“Experience suggests that moving these koalas does not work and that can in fact cause even greater suffering. [The number] continues to increase and that’s why we need to have a look at a koala management strategy to see whether we can reduce that population growth which continues at a very fast pace,” Neville said.
“We need to stop their suffering. Our priority must be about treating these koalas humanely,” she added.
Is there really no other options for these animals than to kill them? Or is violence the only way that governments know how to solve problems? Share your thoughts with us!
John Vibes writes for True Activist and is an author, researcher and investigative journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture and the drug war.
