More than 350 koala bears are feared dead after bushfires in New South Wales, Australia.
One rescuer says the loss is a "national tragedy" after it destroyed nearly 4500 acres of koala heartland near coastal Port Macquarie.
The Koala Hospital Port Macquarie said in a statement that over two-thirds of the fire's footprint was in prime koala habitat.
Koala rescuer Cheyne Ashton said the hospital has brought in more than 150 volunteers to deal with the influx of injured animals.
"In a disaster, people just switch on and you do what you have to do," she said to AAP.
But staff are still unable to rescue koalas in the area because it is off-limits due to the size and intensity of the blaze.
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The hospital released graphic footage of koalas burned to death on the ground, and Ashton said they are arranging counselling for their rescuers due to the trauma involved.
"No one can control nature, but there's sadness because we care so much about the koalas," she said.
The Australian Koala Foundation said only 43,000 of the marsupials are left and they are in serious decline due to bushfires and habitat destruction.
They are also listed as "vulnerable" under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act.
Newshub.
