More than 350 koalas died in the fire in Australia
A series of forest fires have killed a large number of wild koalas in Australia recently. According to a koala hospital in New South Wales, forest fires may have killed more than 350 koalas, which is a 'national disaster' for Australia.
According to reports from Agence France Presse, Japan's NHK and Qatar al Jazeera television, several forest fires have occurred continuously in the coastal area of New South Wales in eastern Australia since late October, and thousands of square kilometers of forests, including koala habitat, have been swallowed up by the fire.
Many wild koalas living in the forest were also involved in the fire. According to a local koala special hospital, more than 350 koalas may have died.
The president of the hospital said that most koalas would climb to the top of the tree and shrink into a ball in case of fire. If the fire was not very large, it would only scorch their fur. However, 65% of koalas' water intake comes from leaves. Therefore, koalas who cannot eat leaves within a few days will die from severe dehydration.
Local rescue teams rescued two dehydrated koalas from the fire on the 2nd. One of them, a cub weighing only 5kg, was found dehydrated.
When it was sent to the hospital, it shrank into a small ball and didn't move much, but after replenishing water, the little guy has recovered to a healthy state.
The rescue team also found another four koalas around the fire and will continue to carry out rescue work.
Due to the impact of residential development and forest fires, the number of koalas in Australia has been declining in recent years. The head of Koala special hospital said, 'this forest fire killed a considerable number of koalas, which is really a national tragedy'.