‘National tragedy’: Hundreds of koalas feared dead in Australian wildfire

‘We’re not holding out too much hope,’ says conservationist after lightning causes major blaze

Conservationists fear 350 animals could be killed (Getty Images)

Hundreds of koalas are feared to have died in wildfires raging along Australia’s east coast.

The fire started on Friday after a lightning strike hit a forest in the state of New South Wales.

The blaze has since burned through 4,900 acres.

Sue Ashton, the president of Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, said two-thirds of the area, 300km north of Sydney, was koala habitat.

“If we look at a 50 per cent survival rate, that’s around about 350 koalas and that’s absolutely devastating,” the conservationist said.

“We’re hoping it’s not as bad as that, but because of the intensity of the fire and the way koala’s behave during fire, we’re not holding out too much hope.”

She added: “It’s a national tragedy because this koala population is so unique,” according to the AFP news agency.

Koalas climb high into trees during wildfires. They may survive if the fire front passes quickly below them.

“Bushfires can have horrific consequences for everyone – human, domestic animals and of course our precious wildlife,” a spokesperson for the Koala Hospital added on Facebook.

“Our region has been hit by devastating fires which have decimated prime koala habitat.

“Crunching the numbers based on koala survey work of the whole [local government area] - it is looking like conservatively based on a 60 per cent mortality that 350 plus koalas have died in the last three days in this fire.”

Animal rescuers fear for the global koala population (Richard Sowersby/Rex)

Ms Ashton said the koala colony was genetically diverse and particularly healthy.

The animals tend to prefer coastal forests, but these are often cleared for suburban expansion.

Increasingly isolated koala colonies can become inbred and diseased.

Wildfire season in Australia has started earlier this year, due to above-average temperatures and below average rainfall.

Sydney was covered by a haze on Wednesday after strong winds carried smoke from the fires to the Australian capital.

Additional reporting by agencies