Queen set to play Live Aid for victims
THE devastating Australian wildfires have killed about 25,000 koala bears on just one small island.
Fires have raged across Kangaroo Island, off the coast of South Australia, and it is believed about half the 50,000 koala population there have burnt to death.
Many of the bears survived have been left horrendous burns.
Many more were in such pain they had to be put down.
There are fears the weather in the region this weekend could spark further fires.
Searing temperatures and high winds could create perfect conditions for the blaze to race further out of control.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited the island yesterday.
He said: “South particularly the that with
Australia, Kangaroo
Island and Adelaide Hills communities, have faced devastating losses and the bushfire threat is not over yet.
“But we will be there, backing the communities every step of the way as they rebuild.”
Heidi Groffen, an ecologist at the Land For Wildlife organisation, said: “People call this place a little Noah’s Ark. The island is a refuge.
“This is the largest fire we have seen in a long time.”
Sam Mitchell, from Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, said staff were treating hundreds of injured animals.
He said: “At least a third of what has been brought in we’ve
A koala suffering from burns rests in a washing basket, above, at Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park yesterday. Left, pair of orphaned babies at Adelaide Koala Rescue site
had to euthanise.We are seeing many burns to hands and feet, fingernails melted off.
“For some, the burns are just too extreme.”
Koalas were introduced to the island in the 1920s in response to a drop in numbers on the mainland because of the the fur trade.
QUEEN guitarist Brian May has revealed that the band has been asked to play at a Live Aid-style benefit concert in aid of the victims of the deadly Australian wildfires.
The guitarist and environmental activist, 72, is preparing for Queen’s Australian concerts, featuring Adam Lambert as singer, next month as part of their world stadium tour.
He said: “We have been approached to do a benefit concert, a bit like Live Aid, if you like, to try and help out the victims of the fire.
“Of course, I am very concerned about the animals. There’s 24 people who have died which is a tragedy in itself, but half a billion animals is almost inconceivable.
“You are looking at a radical change of wildlife in Australia. It’s like a mass extinction, which is something so awful.”