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Study to help koalas injured in bushfires

AAP
A study will look at the best treatments for the thousands of koalas injured in bushfires.
Camera IconA study will look at the best treatments for the thousands of koalas injured in bushfires.

A University of Adelaide-led research project will study the clinical data of koalas injured in last summer's bushfires to help improve survival rates in future fires.

The study will help identify risk factors and the best treatments for koalas impacted by burns, smoke inhalation, dehydration, and disease.

Koala health specialist Natasha Speight said tens of thousands of koalas died in the fires across Kangaroo Island and NSW and many more were injured.

"Many of these bushfires occurred in koala habitat, and because koalas are eucalypt specialists and rely upon eucalypt trees for food, water and shelter, they are particularly vulnerable," Dr Speight said.

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"These fires had a devastating impact on already vulnerable communities of koalas in Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia.

"They were burnt or left dehydrated and hungry in the days following the fires, and their rescue and care largely relied on experienced koala rescue volunteers, and willingness of wildlife parks, wildlife hospitals, zoos and private veterinary clinics to receive hundreds of patients for treatment and care."

Dr Speight said with more fires likely in the future, researchers wanted to ensure volunteers and vets had the best healthcare information available to allow them to better care for injured animals.

They will review clinical data kept by wildlife and zoo veterinarians and rescue groups that treated koalas caught in the fires in Kangaroo Island, Cudlee Creek near Adelaide, and near Port Macquarie in NSW.

Estimates vary, but it was thought that up to 80 per cent of the koala population on Kangaroo Island died in last summer's fires and about 30 per cent of those in NSW.

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