Hundreds of koalas feared dead in Australian bushfire
More than 350 koalas are believed to have been burned alive in an out-of-control bushfire that has ravaged Australia’s southeast coast, which has been plagued by drought.
The fire is thought to have been sparked by a lightning strike on Saturday near Port Macquarie, some 400 kilometres north of Sydney, igniting a fire that has scorched over 2,000 hectares of prime koala habitat the last three days.
Port Macquarie Koala Hospital on Wednesday said rescuers in northern New South Wales state are concerned that hundreds of the “very rare” native Australian marsupial lost their lives in the fire zone, which was a prime koala habitat.
The koala organization said up to 60% koalas in the area may have been killed in the last three days as a result of the fire.
Via ABC News
