After Australia's bush fires, 'koala ark' looks to future-proof populations

BY ANNA WATANABE

KYODO

Apr 5, 2021

KANGAROO ISLAND, AUSTRALIA – Over the southern hemisphere summer of 2019-20, the world watched as eastern and southern Australia battled some of the worst bush fires the country has seen in generations.

Most of the fight took place on the mainland, but among the worst-hit areas was Kangaroo Island, home to a small community off the country’s southern coast, where infernos burned through over half of its 440,000 hectares.

Kangaroo Island is famous for its native wildlife, including sea lions, koalas and, of course, kangaroos. But it is estimated that up to 90% of the island’s previously 50,000-strong koala population was killed as the flames swept through eucalyptus plantations.