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Australia's vulnerable koala population decimated by bushfires

Hamish Goodall
Koala numbers were already plummeting before the fires Credit: Channel Seven

It's estimated nearly half a billion animals have been wiped out in Australia's fire crisis, including entire populations of Koalas.

Tens of thousands of the Australian icons are feared dead or injured after flames tore New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria before decimating Kangaroo Island, south west of Adelaide.

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The wildlife reserve is believed to have been home to Australia's only chlamydia-free population of Koalas.

Koala numbers were already plummeting before the fires, with the species classified as 'vulnerable.'

"Until people can actually get onto the fire grounds, knowing how many we've lost is up in the air," a devastated Kate Welz from Kangaroo Island Wildlife Network told Sunrise.

"We know there are going to be substantial losses."

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"We've set up a makeshift triage centre and are taking in any injured animals that can be treated," she continued.

"Treatments include burn creams, bandaging, making sure they're hydrated, fed and housed in a quiet, cool area."

Earlier, Terri Irwin appeared on Sunrise to explain why Koala's rarely survive or escape bushfires.

The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital is busier than ever, giving our most vulnerable animals the best chance of survival.

"Koala instinct is to go up, as safety is in the top of the tree," she explained.

"Eucalyptus trees have so much oil that they ignite and actually explode in a fire."

"That means being able to treat and help koalas is few and far between because they're basically incinerated."

Click here to donate to the Kangaroo Island koala GoFundme fundraiser.

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