SNIPERS in helicopters have shot more than 700 cuddly Koalas in a horrifying round of aerial attacks in Australia.

Victoria’s government defended the brutal culling which has left many joeys without mothers.

Shocking pictures from the attacks show helicopters looming over the trees of the Budj Bim National Park.

From there the koalas were assessed before being cruelly shot.

The mass cull came after the national park was left in ruin following devastating fires in March.

The fires left many of the cuddly koalas injured – with scorched skin and burnt paws.

And the animals were also left without their beloved food source – manna gum – which was destroyed in the blaze.

A wildlife vet James Todd defended the cull and said it was to prevent further suffering for those animals affected by the fire.

He added that the cull was carried out by specialist staff working with experienced vets, wildlife carers and animal welfare experts.

Todd said: “Due to direct impacts of the fire, the poor health and low likelihood of survival of many animals due to the ongoing drought conditions and lack of food post-fire, many of the animals are requiring euthanising.”

He added: “The options were to just leave them to deteriorate or take proactive steps to reduce suffering by using aerial assessments.”

Aerial culling is often used to control invasive species such as deer and pigs, but this is the first time it has been used on koalas.

But wildlife groups were left outraged with many expressing serious concern about how the fate of individual koalas had been chosen.

Koalas live in eucalyptus forests in Australia’s eastern and southern states.

The cuddly creatures are considered endangered in New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory.

But in Victoria, koala population levels are currently secure.

The koala population is densely concentrated in the region – with fragments of bush known as “habitat islands“.

Budj Bim National Park is one of these habitat islands and was previously home to a host of happy koalas.

But when fire or drought make these habitat islands impossible to live in, koalas are left with nowhere to go.