Urgent legal action filed after rare animal discovered dead in Aussie national park

The death of a rare mammal in an Aussie national park has triggered legal action against a state government.

Two weeks ago, an endangered greater glider was found dead next to a tree felled inside Yarra Ranges National Park, north of Melbourne. Conservationists had warned the Victorian and Commonwealth governments repeatedly that the animal was living in a hollow within one of its branches. However Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMV), which sits within the Department of Environment (DEECA), later knocked it down.

Conservationists allege the Victorian Government ignored warnings it was breaching federal environment laws by destroying ancient hollow-bearing trees that were home to Southern greater gliders and Leadbeater's possums. It has filed in the Federal Court, seeking urgent injunctions to stop DEECA from continuing the tree removals in all state forests and national parks.

Conservationists argue government contractors 'can't be trusted'

The case was lodged by Warburton Environment, which has previously written to Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek warning Victorian government contractors “cannot be trusted” to protect critical habitat for species on verge of extinction like Leadbeater’s possums, gang-gang cockatoos and swift parrots.

While the Federal Environment Department confirmed it has made enquiries into the tree removals, their nature has not been disclosed. Warburton Environment hopes the court action will increase pressure on Plibersek to launch compliance and enforcement action against the tree removal.

The group's president Nic Fox called it "outrageous” that community groups are being forced to take legal action to stop the Victorian Government killing endangered wildlife.

“Community groups shouldn’t have to continually fight their way through the legal system to make the government accountable to its own laws and policies,” she said.

Department claims 'every effort' made to reduce impact on animals

FFMV has previously told Yahoo News its works are designed to maintain breaks in the forest that help minimise the impact of bushfires. It argues the large trees pose a danger to its workers.

"We make every effort to minimise impacts on flora and fauna and follow a rigorous planning and approvals process,” it said.

On Tuesday night, FFMV issued a statement from a spokesperson, saying its ability to comment was limited.

"FFMVic has a duty of care to reduce the future risk of bushfire to communities and the environment including through the maintenance of strategic fuel breaks," it said.

"As there are pending legal proceedings concerning this matter it would be inappropriate comment further."

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Wildlife of the Central Highlands (WOTCH) which had filmed the greater glider in the tree before it was cut down accused the Victorian Government of “knowingly killing threatened wildlife”.

“They are logging our iconic wildlife into extinction under the guise of fire management, all whilst marking their own homework to green-light dodgy loophole logging operations,” its spokesperson Hayley Forster said.

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