Nearly 500 million animals killed in Australian bushfires, experts fear
HARRIET BREWIS
12 hours ago
Around 480 million animals are feared to have died in the bushfires sweeping Australia, including nearly a third of the koalas in New South Wales's main habitat.
Ecologists at the University of Sydney estimate around 480 million mammals, birds and reptiles have been killed, directly or indirectly, by the devastating blazes since they began in September, The Times reported.
This includes almost 8,000 koalas, which are believed to have burnt to death on the state’s mid-north coast.
The region, which lies around 240 miles north of Sydney, is home to the largest number of Australia’s koalas, with a population of up to 28,000.
Federal environment minister Sussan Ley told ABC "up to 30 per cent of the population in that region" may have been killed, because around 30 per cent of their habitat has been destroyed.
“We’ll know more when the fires have calmed down and a proper assessment can be made,” she added.
Death toll rises as Australia fires reach 'catastrophic' level
More than 100 fires continue to rage across the country, having so far consumed more than five million hectares of land.
Nine people have died and hundreds of homes have been razed to the ground during the unprecedented bushfire season.
About four million hectares have been burnt in New South Wales alone.
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