Government pledges extra $50 million to animal relief after bushfires

The bushfire crisis has caused so much devastation that one of Australia’s best loved animals could soon become “endangered”.

Australia’s koala population has been so badly hit by the bushfires, that they could soon be classified as an “endangered” species in parts of the country.

Environment Minister Sussan Ley said koalas have taken an “extraordinary hit” in the crisis.

“It may be necessary to see whether in certain parts of the country, koalas move from where they are, which is often vulnerable, up to endangered,” she told reporters today.

Koalas have been badly hit in the bushfire crisis.

The federal government has pledged $50 million towards wildlife and environmental groups to help restore Australia’s devastated wildlife.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the initial contribution would be evenly split, with $25 million to an Emergency Recovery Fund and $25 million divvied up between frontline environmental groups.

This includes up to $5 million for Greening Australia to aid in revegetation initiatives, and up to $3 million for zoos to help treat animals.

Mr Frydenberg has the described the bushfires as an ecological disaster, telling Sky News this morning that eight million hectares had been lost so far, and more than one billion animals are estimated to have died.

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Vets and volunteers treat Koalas at Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, on Kangaroo Island. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

Dozens of Koalas have been rescued from the fires on Kangaroo Island over the past five days. Picture: David Mariuz/AAP

Kangaroo Island wildlife still being found alive in charred national park. Picture: David Mariuz/AAP

Money will be steered by Australia’s threatened species commissioner Sally Box, who will work with a panel to put a recovery plan in place.

The panel will include university experts as well as people from Zoos Victoria, CSIRO and state and territory representatives.

“We need to be guided by scientific experts in the field, by our national research bodies, the traditional owners who have managed this land over tens of thousands of years, our farmers whose passion and commitment to the land spans generations and our local communities,” Environment Minister Sussan Ley said in a statement.

The government’s main priorities are to rehabilitate injured wildlife, control feral predators, map-affected areas and use unburned areas to protect animals.

Over the weekend in New South Wales, thousands of kilograms of carrots and sweet potatoes were dropped by planes in fire-affected areas to help wallabies.

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Almost 1000kg of sweet potatoes and carrots were sent to feed six different colonies of wallabies in NSW. Picture: NSW Environment Minister, Matt Kean

The produce was dropped by plane. Picture: NSW Environment Minister, Matt Kean

A Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby enjoys a carrot dropped in Operation Sweet Potato. Picture: NSW Environment Minister, Matt Kean

NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean said initial fire assessments indicate the habitats of several important brush-tailed wallaby populations were burnt in the recent bushfires.

“The provision of supplementary food is one of the key strategies we are deploying to promote the survival and recovery of endangered species,” Mr Kean said.

Injured animals are also being treated in bushfire-ravaged areas of Victoria.

RSPCA Victoria has deployed a mobile animal care unit to care for injured wildlife, including animals evacuated from the stranded town of Mallacoota.

Orphaned Baby koalas in their pen at Paradise Primary school in Adelaide set up Adelaide Koala Rescue. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Their South Australian peers have converted a wildlife refuge into a treatment centre for animals injured on Kangaroo Island.

Up to 80 animals are being rescued every day in Queensland, prompting the state government to announce $250,000 in grants for wildlife carers.

– with AAP