Australia Bushfires

we're on the ground in Australia saving animals from the bushfires

Koala conservation status in New South Wales

A new report commissioned by IFAW reveals the impact of climate change and recent bushfires on koala populations in New South Wales. 6,382 koalas are estimated to have perished during the 2019/2020 bushfires, nearly 15% of the population.

Read the full report here.

A koala sits in a tree in Australia. Photo: Stacey Hedman / IFAW

"These fires have been unprecedented , truly catastrophic. I don’t think we’ve seen anything on this scale of intensity and frequency. And the earliness of the fires - this is the start of the bushfire season, it came in September, we dread what’s to come.” Josey Sharrad, Wildlife Campaigner, September 2019.

We’ve been on-the-ground since September working with local partners to rescue and rehabilitate wildlife impacted by the bushfires. We’re providing emergency koala enclosures, rescue vehicle, fire gear, and veterinary supplies.

As the fires escalate, so has our disaster response. Thanks to your support, we’ve deployed more teams to increase efforts on the ground. See more below, including Bear the detection dog and a look at our history working in Australia.

Check out our updates from the field

Australia Bushfires: what you need to know and how to help

We talked to our IFAW experts and got answers to your most popular bushfire questions. Read our Q & A to learn more about the fate of Australia's wildlife and what you can do to help.

Meet Bear, IFAW's koala detection dog

Bear is one of the few detection dogs who can locate live koalas through the scent of their fur. Trained by the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Detection Dogs for Conservation team, Bear has been deployed to some of the hardest hit areas in New South Wales and south east Queensland to support search and rescue efforts.

In the midst of tragedy, Bear offers us hope and helps our team get to koalas in urgent need of rescue and medical care.

A history of IFAW's work in Australia battling bushfires

See our team in action below.