Koalas, a species already considered vulnerable to extinction due to the steady dwindling of their habitat through forest clearing and human expansion, have become the major collateral victims of the bushfire in eastern Australia. More than 2.5 million acres have been burnt on the east coast.
Earlier in the week, rescuers estimated that as many as 350 koalas had died in the fire. Those helping the rescue operation have found charred eucalyptus trees and the incinerated remains of the marsupials attempting to seek refuge.
The death estimates from the chairman of the Australia Koala Foundation, Deborah Tabart, are much bleaker, according to Forbes. Tabart believes over 1,000 koalas have been killed and a staggering 80 percent of their habitat has been destroyed.
Given the precarious situation of koalas, experts believe that koalas have become ‘functionally extinct’, which is when their population has become so limited, the species’ long-term viability becomes highly unlikely.
An online fundraiser for koalas injured in devastating bushfires topped Aus$1 million ($680,000) on Thursday, making it Australia’s biggest campaign on the GoFundMe platform this year.
Deadly bushfires have ravaged vast swathes of eastern Australia, and wildlife carers estimate the blazes have killed hundreds of koalas this month in New South Wales state alone.
A crowdfunding page set up by the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital to provide automatic water drinking stations for wild koalas soared past Aus$1 million, with donations from more than 20,000 people from countries including the United States, France and England.
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Koala cash: Online fundraiser for bushfire-hit koalas tops Aus$1 mnIn a video which has gone viral, a woman has been hailed a hero for rushing to rescue a koala. The footage, seen below, might be distressing to readers.
