WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — An estimated 350 koalas have died recently in the Australian brushfires, that have also burned more than 4,900 acres of prime koala habitat.
In West Palm Beach, there are two Queensland koalas named Oz and Katherine in captivity at the Palm Beach Zoo as part of their breeding program.
Footage of one particular koala named Lewis getting rescued by a stranger who wrapped him in her shirt has been widely circulated. Lewis was euthanized Monday due to the severity of his burns.
Zoologist Tabbitha Cuellar says the fire is not only devastating the Australian koala population but their population as well, “They get every bit of water from the plants they eat so without plants like the eucalyptus trees, they’re not getting the water they need and the dehydration leads to a very fast death.”
Click here if you would like to help an injured koala in Australia. Donations help sick and injured koalas and release them back to the wild.