A wildlife sanctuary in western Victoria has been closed and three of its koalas put down.
Wildlife officers from the Department of Sustainability and Environment inspected the property recently and found nine koalas in unhygienic conditions and without food.
Biodiversity manager Grant Hull said the wildlife shelters permit had clearly been breached, threatening the marsupials' welfare.
"Three of the koalas had previous injuries and were in need of veterinary care, but unfortunately they had to be euthanased," Mr Hull said.
He said four other koalas were released into the wild, while two remain in care and are improving slowly.
Mr Hull said department officers had warned the shelter several times it was not adhering to the permit conditions.
But it had ignored the directions and its permit had been suspended.
Mr Hull said wildlife officers visit shelters periodically to ensure they are operating according to the guidelines.
"On the very rare occasion where an operator is operating inappropriately DSE will take action, as we have done in this instance," he said.