Locals are outraged by confronting image of tourist's unleashed dog mauling a defenceless koala on a popular wildlife island - but some say the PHOTOGRAPHER is to blame

Locals are outraged by a photo of koala being attacked by a dog with no collar or leash in a park at a popular wildlife spot.

The large dog, said to be owned by a tourist, was standing over the helpless marsupial with the animal locked in its jaws in Raymond Island, about 300km east of Melbourne, Victoria.

Rescuers were unable to check if the koala was badly injured as it retreated to the safety of a towering gum tree by the time they arrived at the scene. 

A picture of an unrestrained dog attacking a koala has been taken by a resident of Raymond Island, about 300km east of Melbourne, Victoria

On a post uploaded to Facebook, said it was believed the koala was not injured seriously as eyewitness have told that the dog was 'simply curious'.

But this cannot be confirmed.

'Unfortunately, if it's been bitten it could be in trouble because they get infections from dog bites,' koala rescuer Catherine Winzer told Yahoo News Australia.

Ms Winzer was unable to get to koala due to the difficult positioning of the tree as it hung over water.

'The tree is massive, all we can do is wait and see what happens and if it comes to ground, we'll try to nab it then and check it out.' 

The koala has since disappeared from the gum tree but according to the Facebook post, locals are keeping an eye out.

'As we're on the island we can keep a look out for any koala along that stretch of road, also I'm sure members of the public will let us know if it's seen on the ground,' it read.

The image, taken at the popular Victorian tourist spot, sparked outrage among locals with many saying the photographer should have helped the koala rather than take a picture.

'I can't believe whoever it was stood there and took a photo instead of helping the koala,' on wrote.

The Koala retreated to a nearby gum tree for safety and rescuers were unable to reach it to see how badly it was injured

'Why would they stand there and take a photo instead of chasing the dog away?', questioned another. 

But witnesses said that the she did in fact help, trying to get the dog to release the koala after she took that picture.

The dog’s owner was told to put the dog on a leash. 

Wildlife advocates said it was crucial that they have photographic evidence of these incidents as it has become a growing concern on the island. 

They hope that pictures like these will educate tourists to keep a better eye on their dog and save koalas from this terrible fate.  

As the tourist destination grows in popularity, wildlife advocates have become frustrated at the lack of initiative from local and state governments.

Raymond Island is growing in popularity but there is only one sign telling visitors to leash their dogs

In the past week alone, two koalas were attacked by dogs, according to Shelley Robinson from a not-for-profit rescue group, Koalas of Raymond Island.

'Raymond Island has definitely been discovered by tourists, and that's brought along all sorts of problems,' Ms Robinson said. 

She said that they is just one 'easily missable' sign at the entry to the island that warns people to leash their dogs and there was a lack of enforcement of this, especially during this holiday season. 

'There are no rangers to be in contact with at the moment,' Ms Robinson said.  

Ms Robinson offered some guidelines for both locals and tourists to follow. 

'Be aware when the koala is coming down moving from tree to tree, that's not the time to let your dogs out to roam around,' she said.

'The time a koala's likely to move is during the morning and night, so don't have your dog out there in the yard.

'The majority of the residents are conscious of that, at the moment tourists aren't and they need to be.'

Rescuers are angry with the local and state governments' lack of response to the increasing number of attacks on koalas