NSW: Rescue team sent to save koalas from bushfires

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-2006
NSW: Rescue team sent to save koalas from bushfires

SYDNEY, Dec 1 AAP - The NSW government has rushed a rescue team to the state's north
to save injured koalas threatened by massive bushfires.

NSW's largest koala population is in the Pilliga region, near Coonabarabran, where
an enormous fire has devoured more than 100,000ha of bushland in the Pilliga Nature Reserve.

Wildlife authorities say the area holds the most genetically diverse population of
koalas in Australia because of the size and and quality of its bush.

NSW Environment Minister Bob Debus last night ordered Sydney's Taronga Zoo and National
Parks and Wildlife Rescue Service to urgently head to the Pilliga and get koalas to safety.

A Wildlife Rescue Service Van was to pick up a veterinary team from Dubbo's Western
Plains Zoo en route.

Injured koalas were to be assessed at the scene and taken to Western Plains Zoo.

Taronga Zoo will also be on standby if koala casualties are high.

"One of the great challenges for wildlife in bushfires is the staggering speed with
which the fires move and the searing heat they generate," Mr Debus said.

"Koalas are particularly vulnerable as they are tree dwellers and cannot move fast
enough on the ground to escape the flames."

It was worthwhile rescuing the marsupials as research showed they were quite capable
of surviving once reintroduced to the bush, he said.

AAP sk/was/srp/jt/sp

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES NSW KOALAS

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