What happens 100 days after a bushfire?

In the 100 days since the bushfires struck South Australia’s Kangaroo Island, there has been a lot of great work done to help the wildlife and the plant-life to replenish, by man and nature.

It does not take long for the bush to start recovering naturally and although much of the land has burnt, it is not lost.

In time we will be able to see how many of the 55-year-old trees that were once along Koala Walk on Kangaroo Island have recovered from the fires.

Even though there were many terrible losses of wildlife at Kangaroo Island, all the special species remain. There are koalas, kangaroo, tammar wallaby, cape barren goose, brushtail possum and echidna still thriving in the area.

There are many koalas on Kangaroo Island all looking very healthy and some of these koalas are now living in areas that were replanted after the bushfires.

There is even a nationally endangered glossy back cockatoo population which is still in the sights of Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. This cockatoo is only found on Kangaroo Island and has a population of just 373!

A lot of the sanctuary’s buildings were destroyed during the fires, including housing for staff members, the cabins and the visitors’ centre at Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.

The work in the 100 days after the bushfires involved removing building and fencing debris from the burnt down areas and reconnecting the power to important sections of the wildlife sanctuaries.

The next steps will involve planting seedlings and feral animal control to ensure the natural areas are rebuilt and so that wildlife can continue to thrive.

Koala Fun Facts

Did you know?

• Koalas found in South Australia are larger, darker, and fluffier than their cousins in the North! The northern koalas have cut back their fur to help themselves cope with the heat.
• Koalas have individual fingerprints, like gorillas, chimpanzees and humans.

• A koala will eat 2.5 pounds of food a day and uses its claws to get the branches and the Eucalyptus leaves.
• The koalas on Kangaroo Island are the only disease-free population in the whole of Australia.