- Australian authorities are culling koalas in the Budj Bim world heritage area after a wildfire destroyed 2,000 hectares of their habitat.
- Snipers in helicopters are being used to kill the koalas, a method drawing criticism from animal activists.
- More than 700 koalas are estimated to have been killed so far, with concerns about orphaned joeys left in the trees.
- Officials claim the cull is necessary to prevent the koalas from starving due to habitat loss, stating they were severely injured and distressed.
- But critics argue that the aerial culling is indiscriminate and question the assessment methods, advocating for better habitat management to prevent such drastic measures.
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