Almost half a billion animals killed in Australia wildfires

The bushfires raging across Australia have had a devastating impact on the country's unique flora and fauna, with some estimates putting the death toll at nearly half a billion animals in one state alone, and experts believe it could take decades for wildlife to recover.

A dead animal after wildfires hit Batlow, New South Wales.

Scared horses try to move away from nearby bushfires at a residential property near the town of Nowra in the Australian state of New South Wales.

A kangaroo sits in a field amidst smoke from a bushfire in Snowy Valley on the outskirts of Cooma.

A dog sits amongst ash from bushfires washed up on a beach in Merimbula, in Australia's New South Wales state.

Animals are seen in Cobargo, as bushfires continue in New South Wales.

Animals stand nearby a destroyed house in Cobargo, as bushfires continue in New South Wales.

The sky turns red from bushfires in Bemboka, in Australia's New South Wales.

Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Services (WIRES) volunteer and carer Tracy Dodd holds a kangaroo with burnt feet pads after being rescued from bushfires in Australia's Blue Mountains area.

Horses graze amid haze in Jindabyne, a township affected by the Dunns Road bushfire, in New South Wales.

Kangaroos move close to a residential area from bushland in Merimbula, in Australia's New South Wales.

A koala drinks water from a bottle given by a firefighter in Cudlee Creek, South Australia.

Cattle stand in a field under a red sky caused by bushfires in Greendale on the outskirts of Bega.

A seagull walks past ash from bushfires washed up on a beach in Merimbula, in Australia's New South Wales.

A horse is seen through dense smoke from a bushfire on a farm in Eden.

A horse trying to move away from nearby bushfires at a residential property near the town of Nowra in the Australian state of New South Wales.

A kangaroo moves close to a residential area from bushland in Merimbula, in Australia's New South Wales.

Horses are seen amid haze in Jindabyne, a township affected by the Dunns Road bushfire, in New South Wales, Australia.

Kangaroos move close to a residential area from bushland in Merimbula, in Australia's New South Wales

A kangaroo trying to move away from nearby bushfires at a residential property near the town of Nowra in the Australian state of New South Wales.