Photos of a koala hospital in Australia show just how devastating recent bushfires have been for the iconic marsupial
The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital was established in 1973 by the non-profit, Koala Conservation Australia Incorporated.
The hospital has eight intensive care units that cater to koalas with specific medical needs. It is staffed by four paid employees and 140 volunteers.
But since the bushfires started, the koala hospital has been overwhelmed by the number of injured koalas requiring care.
When a koala is brought to the hospital, the first priority is rehydrating it.
The next day, the koala is examined and treated for burns.
Once it's well enough, it is sent to the rehabilitation yards.
The hospital's GoFundMe page states that 31 koalas have been rescued from fire-affected areas so far.
The hospital typically admits 200-250 koalas a year and conducts research on koala diseases in addition to caring for sick or injured koalas.
Source: Koala Hospital GoFundMe
However, the bushfires have forced the hospital to shift focus to caring for koalas affected by the fire.
Despite the tireless efforts of hospital staff and volunteers, the hospital describes the effect of the wildfires on koala habitats as "catastrophic".
Source: Koala Hospital Website
Thousands of koalas are expected to have perished in the flames, but the Koala Hospital is doing all it can to save the koala population.
In October, the hospital started a GoFundMe page to raise money to replace 12 automatic drinking stations that were destroyed by the fires.
The hospital asked for 25,000 AUD. At the time this article was written, the GoFundMe page had raised over two million AUD.
Thanks to over 45,000 donations from around the world, the Koala Hospital will be able to multiply its efforts to save Australia's koala population.
The number of planned drinking stations has been increased from 12 to 100.
Additionally, the Koala Hospital plans to establish a wild koala breeding program with the creation of three controlled breeding areas.
However, before steps can be taken to rebuild Australia's decimated koala population, the hospital — and the koalas — must wait out the blaze as the country continues to experience wildfires and record heat.
In the meantime, the Koala Hospital continues to care for its patients, ensuring the preservation of Australia's most adored marsupial one koala at a time.
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