Makeshift koala hospital scrambles to save dozens injured in bushfires

Almost half of Kangaroo Island has been razed, an estimated 80% of koala habitat wiped out

Published: January 14, 2020 16:33 AFP and Compiled by Nathaniel Lacsina, Digital Content Producer

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Dozens of injured koalas arrive at the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park's makeshift animal hospital each day in cat carriers, washing baskets or clinging to wildlife carers. Image Credit: AFP

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Injured in bushfires that have ravaged the wildlife haven off the coast of South Australia state, there are so many marsupials currently requiring urgent treatment that carers don't have time to give them names - they are simply referred to by a number. Image Credit: AFP

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Among them is Koala Number 64, who was brought in with burns to all four of his paws. Image Credit: AFP

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Stretched out on a surgical table in a bustling tent, he has been sedated so the wounds can be examined and treated. Image Credit: AFP

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"It's healing nicely," says veterinarian Peter Hutchison, explaining the koala had already benefitted from a few days' of treatment. Image Credit: AFP

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Not all rescued koalas have been so lucky. Many are found so badly injured that they need to be euthanised. Image Credit: AFP

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Steven Selwood, South Australia Veterinary Emergency Management team leader at the hospital, says around 46,000 koalas were thought to be on the island before this year's bushfires. Image Credit: AFP

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It is estimated as few as 9,000 remain, Selwood says, describing the figure as "pretty devastating". Image Credit: AFP

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"The fires here were particularly ferocious and fast-moving so we're seeing a lot less injured wildlife than in other fires." Image Credit: AFP

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"A lot of the wildlife was incinerated." Image Credit: AFP

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Australian Environment Minister Sussan Ley said the country's koala population had taken an "extraordinary hit" as a result of bushfires that have raged for months, suggesting they could be listed as "endangered" for the first time. Image Credit: AFP

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Kangaroo Island is the only place in Australia where the population is entirely free of chlamydia - a sexually transmitted infection also found in humans that is fatal to koalas. Image Credit: AFP

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That has made them a key "insurance population" for the future of the species - and even more crucial now that large numbers have died in bushfires on the Australian mainland. Image Credit: AFP

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Almost half of Kangaroo Island has been razed by fire and an estimated 80 percent of koala habitat wiped out. Image Credit: AFP

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This widespread destruction has left rescuers with a tricky proposition - what to do with the animals once they have recovered. Image Credit: AFP

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"He's going to need another week (to recover) and will need to be kept caged after that," Hutchinson tells AFP as he wraps a pink bandage around Number 64's paw. Image Credit: AFP

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