New threat to koalas ravaged by bushfires as they are found STARVING to death after blazes destroyed their food

  • Koalas are starving to death as bushfires have burned their food resources 
  • Animal rescuers in South Australia said it could be days before koalas are found 
  • Adelaide Hills fire has claimed one life and burned 25,000 hectares of land 

By Claudia Poposki and Zoe Zaczek For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 22:12 GMT, 26 December 2019 | Updated: 22:31 GMT, 26 December 2019

Koalas are starving to death because bushfires plaguing the country are destroying their food. 

The bushfires in the Adelaide Hills have burned 25,000 hectares of land and left koalas desperately searching for food and water.    

Adelaide Koala Rescue’s Jane Brister is currently caring for 46 koalas that have had their homes burned in her rescue centre.

Koalas are starving to death because bushfires plaguing the country are destroying their food and it is days before someone finds them. Pictured: Firefighter from Oakbank Balhannah CFS gives koala some water

Koalas are starving to death because bushfires plaguing the country are destroying their food and it is days before someone finds them. Pictured: Firefighter from Oakbank Balhannah CFS gives koala some water

A watch and act warning was issued for the fires burning in Cudlee Creek, north west of Adelaide, on Thursday afternoon after the blaze started six days ago - but extensive damage has been done to home and wildlife already. Pictured: Country Fire Service volunteer and koala watch blaze in Adelaide Hills

A watch and act warning was issued for the fires burning in Cudlee Creek, north west of Adelaide, on Thursday afternoon after the blaze started six days ago - but extensive damage has been done to home and wildlife already. Pictured: Country Fire Service volunteer and koala watch blaze in Adelaide Hills

A watch and act warning was issued for the fires burning in Cudlee Creek, north west of Adelaide, on Thursday afternoon after the blaze started six days ago – but extensive damage has been done to home and wildlife already. Pictured: Country Fire Service volunteer and koala watch blaze in Adelaide Hills

Rescue teams are desperate to help as many koalas as they can - such as Charlie, who's mother died and left him alone in high trees

Rescue teams are desperate to help as many koalas as they can - such as Charlie, who's mother died and left him alone in high trees

Rescue teams are desperate to help as many koalas as they can – such as Charlie, who’s mother died and left him alone in high trees

She told The Advertiser the centre doesn’t normally care for this many koalas at once and the increase was due to the fires. 

‘A big problem we’re noticing now is koalas are coming in starving… there’s just no food,’ Ms Brister said.

‘And part of the problem is there’s often at least four days until someone finds them.’ 

Koalas eat eucalyptus leaves – but thousands of trees have been decimated by fires. 

Rachel Westcott, South Australian Veterinary Emergency Management founder and rescue co-ordinator, echoed Ms Brister’s sentiments.

She said the burnt wildlife are only starting to come out to look for food and water now – which is when rescuers discover their injuries.

She said many koalas have had to be euthanised due to the severe burns they have received.

The Adelaide Hills fire has burned 25,000 hectares of land, claimed one life and 84 homes have been destroyed

The Adelaide Hills fire has burned 25,000 hectares of land, claimed one life and 84 homes have been destroyed

The Adelaide Hills fire has burned 25,000 hectares of land, claimed one life and 84 homes have been destroyed

Others have died in the fire – leaving their joeys to fend for themselves.

Some koalas have been rescued during the blazes that have been plaguing the country.

Adam Mudge, 33, helped save six koalas from scrub as flames approached a property in Cudlee Creek.   

Some koalas have been rescued during the blazes that have been plaguing the country. Adam Mudge, 33, helped save six koalas from scrub as flames approached a property in Cudlee Creek

Some koalas have been rescued during the blazes that have been plaguing the country. Adam Mudge, 33, helped save six koalas from scrub as flames approached a property in Cudlee Creek

Some koalas have been rescued during the blazes that have been plaguing the country. Adam Mudge, 33, helped save six koalas from scrub as flames approached a property in Cudlee Creek

The father-of-two, who has a third child on the way, said his crew was tasked to protect the property about 9.30am on Friday.  

‘There was a gully, the fire was coming towards the house. We set up and waited for the fire to come to us,’ Mr Mudge explained.

‘At that time, there were koalas coming out of the scrub.’

Mr Mudge, who is a member of the Country Fire Service in South Australia, said the female landowner encouraged the crew to put the rescued koalas in the laundry. 

‘By the time we left, those landowners had eight koalas in their laundry,’ he said.

‘We’re not the ones that should be credited.’

Mr Mudge, who was working in a team of three, said they were simply doing their ‘job’.

‘We were at the heart of where it all began, where the fire first began. We were there trying to prevent any homes being lost,’ he explained.

DETAILS OF THE ADELAIDE HILLS BUSHFIRE

* One person killed (69-year-old Ron Selth) three more in hospital with burns.

* 25,000 hectares burnt within a 127-kilometre perimeter.

* 86 homes confirmed lost along with 484 other buildings and 278 vehicles.

* Seven more homes severely damaged with 20 suffering minor damage.

* 330 sheep found dead with 390 more shot after being badly burned.

* Six cows and a calf also killed.

* Significant losses to fruit and other crops, including up to 1100 hectares of vineyards. 

* Total losses likely to run into millions of dollars.

*Total fire ban in place 

SOURCE: AAP 

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