Australian authorities were quick to charge a landowner and two companies on Wednesday with more than 250 counts of animal cruelty concerning the deaths of dozens of koalas last year during a cleaning operation.

Last February, 21 koalas were found dead and many more injured at a wood plantation in Cape Bridgewater, the state conservation regulator revealed.

According to the state's statement, 49 of the injured koalas were terminated, with many suffering from malnutrition, dehydration, and fractures.

A man and an earthmoving company are suspected of causing "unreasonable pain or suffering to scores of koalas," the statement revealed. "They are also charged with destroying koalas which are a protected species" and with a total of 126 counts, including 18 counts of severe cruelty for allegedly causing fatal injuries. In addition, a different contracting company was charged with cruelty for allegedly disturbing the koala population. 

It is worth noting that for a single charge of animal cruelty, the maximum punishment is over $78,000 for a business and more than $32,000 or 12 months in prison for an individual.

Friends of the Earth Australia referred to the incident as a "koala massacre" at the time and said it was "alarmed" that "such wanton damage and widespread death and injury continue to plague the southwest Victorian plantation business."