Up to a third of New South Wales' koalas have been killed by raging bushfires, Australia's environment minister has said, Eurasia Diary reports citing Sky News.
Susan Ley revealed that thousands of the animals, in one of the most densely populated areas on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, had been lost.
It was estimated that the region was home to around 28,000 of the creatures - among Australia's most celebrated - before the bushfires hit.
"Up to 30% of the koalas in the region may have been killed, because up to 30% of their habitat has been destroyed," Ms Ley told ABC News.
"We'll know more when the fires are calmed down and a proper assessment can be made."
