Koala welfare 'emergency response' followed fire at Budj Bim National Park.

The article discusses the controversial decision by Victoria's Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) to cull approximately 700 koalas at Budj Bim National Park following a bushfire that occurred on March 10, 2025. The fire devastated 2,200 hectares of habitat, severely injuring many koalas, with nearly half assessed as suffering from significant injuries and burns. DEECA, in consultation with wildlife experts, conducted aerial assessments to identify and humanely euthanize koalas that were unlikely to survive due to their injuries and the loss of food sources. The article also notes ongoing efforts to support the remaining wildlife, including invasive species control and supplementary feeding trials, although the latter showed no koalas accessing the provided food. [Extracted from the article]