WARNING: Distressing content

Locals and politicians alike are calling for an urgent investigation into what has been labelled a ‘koala massacre’ in Victoria’s far west.

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An emotional Portland woman’s video and images of injured and dead koalas strewn across and property have gone viral.

Now, it’s feared a local farmer is responsible for the carnage.

“They’ve bulldozed 140 acres down and just killed all of our koalas,” Helen Oakley said in the clip.

“There is koalas lying there dead, mothers killed and only little babies.”

The bluegum logging plantation, west of Portland, was harvested last year but bulldozers have only recently been clearing the property.

Photos of injured and dead koalas are circulating across social media. Credit: Animals Australia

Environmental group Friends of the Earth said a koala “massacre” has occurred during the logging of the plantation near Cape Bridgewater.

According to the animal activists, hundreds of koalas were killed or injured during logging activities.

“A logging harvest was completed in late December 2019, where reports came in about the plight of hundreds of starving koalas,” Friends of the Earth claims.

“A couple of days ago people apparently witnessed the bulldozing of many dead koalas into slash piles.”

Animals Australia sent two vets from the Vets For Compassion to the site on Saturday, and another two on Sunday to assist with the recovery and treatment of surviving animals.

Vets have visited the site to assist with the recovery and treatment of surviving animals. Credit: Facebook via 7NEWS

A spokesperson said the organisation’s immediate focus was saving animals, and then mounting evidence to determine any breach of law under the Cruelty of Animals Act.

Geelong based company, Midway, has confirmed it was involved in logging the plantation late last year and complied with all government regulations to protect koalas.

It says the land has since been handed back to a local farmer who is responsible for clearing the property to sow pastures.

Laws

Shadow Attorney-General Edward O’Donohue says laws to protect koalas have failed.

“The systems haven’t worked and there’s been an unnecessary death of our much-loved koalas,” he said.

The land has reportedly been handed back to a local farmer to sow pastures. Credit: Animals Australia

Federal Greens Senator Sarah Hanson Young is calling for an urgent independent investigation, calling for Premier Daniel Andrews to ban logging altogether.

“We’ve had a horrendous bushfire season that’s killed that much wildlife, I cannot believe he’s allowing logging to continue,” she said.

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Victoria’s Chief Conservation regulator is investigating and says those responsible will receive heavy penalties.

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning said they were extremely concerned about reports of animals showing signs of starvation and injury.

“If this is found to be due to deliberate human action, we expect the Conservator Regular to act swiftly against those responsible,” a DELWP spokesman said.

“DELWP was onsite on Friday. A number of animals were removed and were assessed and are now being cared for by local rehabilitation volunteers.”

Killing, harassing or disturbing wildlife can attract a penalty of up to $8000 and an additional fine of more than $800 per head of wildlife.

Koalas are at risk of being listed as endangered following the bushfires, with habitats lost across Australia.

- with AAP