A group of teenagers were videoed rescuing a carload of injured koalas from Flinders Chase National Park on Monday. It is feared that more than 25,000 koalas have been killed in the devastating fires on the isolated island known as the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park.
According to 7News, 60 percent of the koalas the young men came across had been burned to death, one-fifth that were saved died within the first day of their rescue.
Six shocked koalas could be seen huddled in the teenagers’ vehicles.
“Just trying to collect as many live ones as we can,” one of the teen’s states in the video. “Little fellas looking a little exhausted.
Shoved the mother in the boot because she was a bit aggressive.”
The Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park have been caring for many of the survivors, and are also aware that many of the injured koalas have been left stranded and have no means of escape. The animals at this park are believed to be Australia’s only chlamydia-free population. Chlamydia in koalas can cause blindness, bladder inflammation, infertility and death.
Before the fire, their population had been estimated to be at about 50,000. Any koalas rescued will not be able to be returned to the island because of the fear of contamination.
The video which was originally posted on Reddit showed two cousins traveling in the area picking up the koalas. The young men, Micah, 19 and his cousin Caleb, 18 are thought to have rescued 20 koalas. Six of the young koalas had been orphaned – two of them were mothers with their babies.
The teens will not be taking the animals off the islands so that they may be returned . Animals who seemed to have survived without injuries were left on the island.
Check out the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsFE1yf51vo
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