The Impact of Bushfires on Australia’s Koala Population

With southern Australia experiencing the worst bushfires on record, the area’s already-endangered koala population faces tough, unforeseen challenges. Recent reports state that these beloved marsupials are among more than 1 billion animals estimated to die due to the blazes. Furthermore, half of the 50,000 disease-free koalas kept as an insurance population on Kangaroo Island are also feared dead. Fortunately, there are ways for the public to help by providing donations and support.

Fires have broken out across the entire country, with New South Wales and parts of Victoria being among the worst affected areas. According to the Australian Koala Foundation’s Deborah Tabart, thousands of koalas have died in the blazes, with these animals losing over 80% of their natural habitat. Consequently, Tabart has expressed great concern about the remaining population of koalas, while Port Macquarie Koala Hospital has launched a campaign to help fund automatic drinking stations for the animals.

According to the hospital, staff, along with National Parks and Wildlife Service crew leaders, have been searching for these animals in the Port Macquarie area. To date, more than 31 koalas have been rescued from fire grounds. The koalas have been rehydrated, examined for burns, and treated accordingly, with their dressings being changed every three days.

The hospital is also procuring a water-carrying vehicle with firefighting capabilities to replenish drinking stations. Initially, the campaign set a goal of $25,000; however, it has reached an astonishing $4.1 million. Now, the organization is working to establish a wild koala breeding program with the funds raised.

“Some of the funds raised will be directed to building a ‘Koala Ark’, a facility to allow the surviving koalas to be accommodated in a healthy habitat area. Hopefully, these koalas will breed, and a new population will be established for return to the wild,” the hospital’s campaign page states.

Other species have also suffered devastating losses due to the fires, including birds, reptiles, and various mammals. Tragically, more than 20 lives have been lost. The World Wildlife Fund Australia has estimated that around 1.25 billion animals may have been killed directly or indirectly from the fires that have burned over 8.4 million hectares across Australia. Some species may have teetered on the brink of extinction; however, the full extent of the devastation will not be clear until the fires have ceased.

How to Help

Support is being gathered for WIRES, the Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service, which is working to provide rescue, water, shelter, and care for animals. Additionally, the public may contribute to the World Wildlife Fund Australia and RSPCA NSW as well.

Communities can also be supported through donations to the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and GIVIT, ensuring better recovery and relief efforts.

The NSW Rural Fire Service has also established a platform where community members can assist the families of the firefighters who have lost their lives battling the flames.

This article was updated on 8 January 2020.

This article was first published on Nov 28, 2019, and updated on Jan 7, 2020.