Behind the scenes of koala rehabilitation on Kangaroo Island

PARNDANA, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 21: Sam Mitchell, owner of the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park comforts a koala joey affected by the recent bushfires on February 21, 2020 in Parndana, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)
PARNDANA, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 21: Sam Mitchell, owner of the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park comforts a koala joey affected by the recent bushfires on February 21, 2020 in Parndana, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)
Kangaroo Island is in the process of recovery following a devastating bushfire season.

Over a third of Kangaroo Island, including much of the Flinders Chase National Park, was burnt during the recent bushfires that started on 4 January.

Two people lost their lives, while tens of thousands of native animals and farming livestock were also killed.

The Wildlife, Ecosystems and Habitat Bushfire Recovery Taskforce estimates as many as 90 percent of Kangaroo Island’s famous koala population perished in the recent bushfires.

It’s believed only 5,000 to 10,000 koalas remaining in the area from an original population of about 60,000.

The Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park has been hard at work caring for and rehabilitating animals affected by the fires.

The park has treated 600 animals since the fires, and 95 per cent of those have been koalas.

PARNDANA AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 23: Dana Mitchell owner of the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park holds a koala joey affected by the recent bushfires as veterinarian Dr Elise Nishimoto of Kangaroo Island Veterinary Clinic prepares treatment on February 23, 2020 in Parndana, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)
PARNDANA, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 23: Dana Mitchell, owner of the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park holds a koala joey affected by the recent bushfires as veterinarian Dr Elise Nishimoto of Kangaroo Island Veterinary Clinic and vet nurse Nikki Anderson of Zoo’s SA apply treatment on February 23, 2020 in Parndana, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)
PARNDANA AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 23: Yvonne Dennett, RAAF Leading Aircraft Woman and Medic based in Darwin feeds a koala joey affected by the recent bushfires at the Kangaroo Wildlife Park on February 23, 2020 in Parndana, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)
KINGSCOTE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 23: Dana Mitchell owner of the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park and her team feed koala joeys affected by the recent bushfires on February 23, 2020 in Parndana, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)
PARNDANA, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 21: Sam Mitchell, owner of the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park comforts a koala joey affected by the recent bushfires on February 21, 2020 in Parndana, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

 

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