Koalas, one of Australia’s native and most beloved animals, are on the verge of extinction due to a loss of habitat caused by forest fires. New south wales was suffering from destructive wildfires and they are the worst in recorded history. Up to 28,000 koalas lived in the mid-north coast of New South Wales, but the wildfires have caused a major drop in their population.

According to Sky News, over 350 koalas have died as a result of the 70 wildfires that are burning across the state. Port Macquire Koala Hospital is doing everything they can to keep the animals from going extinct.

“Up to 30 percent of their habitat has been destroyed” said Sussan Ley, the Environment Minister.

“We’ll know more when the fires are calmed down and a proper assessment can be made”

Many photos of rescued koalas have since gone viral on social media.

People have also been affected by the wildfires – about 12.35 million acres of land have burned nationwide, leaving nine people dead and over a thousand homes destroyed.

Koala numbers are reportedly as few as 43,000 and have been listed as “vulnerable” by Australia’s government. The most effective way to protect koalas is, according to Flanagan, to stop cutting down their forest homes.

The fire danger in New South Wales is now considered “severe” as the temperature has risen drastically. In Sydney, the western suburbs reached 41 degrees Celsius (106 Fahrenheit), meanwhile the inner city reached 31 C – 88 F.

BBC News reported that Australia’s government has faced a lot of criticism for its response to the fires and for refusing to acknowledge climate change