International

Nearly 700 koalas bears were killed off by Australian wildlife authorities in a secret programme to avoid the anger of conservationists, it was admitted today.

Koalas are normally a highly protected species in Australia which has heavy penalties for those who harm the animals, now in vastly reduced numbers.

But Victorian Government officials admitted that that they did three euthanasia sweeps to kill 686 koalas in 2013 and 2014, in a covert campaign that was designed to avoid any backlash from green groups and the community.