A group of volunteers rescued a van full of koalas as part of the effort to save as many animals as possible during the wildfires consuming much of Australia.
A half-billion animals have died in the bush fires that have sparked in Australia, including many koalas, who typically live in the trees of the burning region. An estimated 8,000 koalas have already died in the blaze, which is nearly one-third of the planet’s koalas.
With so many animals at risk, one family took the rescue mission into their own hands. They saved nearly a dozen koalas, including a mother and her baby. A video of the van loaded with ash-covered koalas quickly went viral as people online lauded their efforts.
In the viral clip, one of the rescuers says, “We’re doing a little koala rescue. She’s a mother with a baby. And they’re cuddling. We’re just trying to collect as many live ones as we can.”
The family was able to save all but one of the koalas they managed to get into the van, following one koala’s death en route to a safe area, according to ABC News.
A family set up a rescue of koalas on Kangaroo Island and brought them to neighbors, who they say have a permit to care for native wildlife. While one koala died on the way, the families say they’re “just trying to collect as many live ones as we can.” https://t.co/ZTarjHl8NR pic.twitter.com/M8IaQ6fJ5H
— ABC News (@ABC) January 7, 2020
The koala rescue efforts have been continuous since the fire started, with some people putting their own lives at risk to save the animals. Several videos have captured the ash-covered, dehydrated animals being rushed to safety.
A Koala caught inside the #AustralianFires cries in pain helplessly in half burnt state as help reaches finally. Australia’s Koala population has reduced to half because of these bushfires since September. Why can’t the world unite to help? Heartbreaking. pic.twitter.com/yRgaryNPZo
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) January 5, 2020
WATCH: Emergency workers on Kangaroo Island used water to soothe a koala burned by the Australian wildfires. https://t.co/anxe70WaJJ pic.twitter.com/TxQQTOGqrj
— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 7, 2020
A dehydrated koala approached cyclists in Adelaide for some water. Although not functionally extinct, up to 30% of the koala population has been wiped out in the Australia bushfires. ? pic.twitter.com/HkKr4kwsBS
— Ishita Yadav (@IshitaYadav) January 4, 2020
Paul the koala makes miraculous recovery after rescue from Australian bushfire. https://t.co/PPSe9y8ULq pic.twitter.com/I6zFZcD57O
— ABC News (@ABC) January 7, 2020
Dozens have been arrested for starting some of the fires in Australia. The region has been in a state of emergency since last week.
