The devastating fires ravaging Australia are leaving a path of destruction in their wake. While people are left deserted on beaches and are losing their homes, it is easy to forget the wildlife suffering the same cruel fate. Patrick Boyle is a brave local willing to risk his own life to save local Koalas and other wildlife from the raging fires. (1)

Saving Koalas From Fire

Patrick is a 22-year-old hunter who lives in Mallacoota, a town cut off by the bushfires.  Located in the East Gippsland region of Victoria, a vast eucalyptus forest in Mallacoota has been charred by the fires. Patrick willingly entered the forest to search for wildlife in need of assistance. He was able to save “eight or nine” koalas and continues his search. (1)

Burned Koalas Rescued

While locals focus on helping their neighbors, Patrick is worried about the animals. He confessed he didn’t know what to expect but took to the forest on his own to find out. “I instantly found a burned koala that I took straight back to the wildlife shelter. It was actually remarkable how quickly I found koalas,” he says. “I’ve found eight or nine so far that have been rescued. I found over 10 that were dead and about another five that are alive and healthy for the time being.” (1)

Wildlife Shelter For Koalas

It is estimated that at least 480 million mammals, birds, and reptiles died in New South Wales alone. Patrick is hoping donations to the local wildlife shelter will help keep more from dying. The shelter is located at the home of a local, with little resources available to help the animals. (1)

“The place is rammed with koalas and other wildlife all through their lounge and back garden. They have very little resources, so any help that people can give is great,” says Patrick. “To give people a sense of what we’re dealing with, we’re expecting hot weather in the coming days and the shelter is right by a gully. This puts the shelter under threat, so we are currently moving all of the animals to a temporary location now to ensure their safety tomorrow.” (1)

Hunter Concerned For Koalas

Patrick says people are surprised by his concern and efforts to help the animals because he is a hunter. “Farmers, hunters, and workers are the ones out there actually taking action right now,” he says. (1)

A naval ship was sent to the area to evacuate the people who fled to local beaches. The ship only carries about 700 passengers, leaving as many as 4,000 people still stranded. (1)

Koalas And Wildlife Will Be Further Depleted

Despite reports of over 480 million animals perishing in New South Wales, authorities fear the numbers will be “substantially higher.” “Many of the affected animals are likely to have been killed directly by the fires, with others succumbing later due to the depletion of food and shelter resources and predation from introduced feral cats and red foxes,” a spokeswoman from Sydney University says.

The devastation is so severe experts believe that without human intervention it is possible sensitive species could be wiped out in the area. (2)