(CNN) Almost a third of koalas in Australia's New South Wales region may have been killed in deadly bushfires, which have been burning out of control, the Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley said.

"Up to 30% of the koalas in the region may have been killed, because up to 30% of their habitat has been destroyed.. We'll know more when the fires are calmed down and a proper assessment can be made," Ley told ABC's AM Radio program on Friday.

For over two months, deadly bushfires have been burning out of control across Australia and engulfing whole towns , exacerbated by strong winds and rising temperatures.

By December 21, a total of nine people had died, with one missing, and nearly 800 homes had been destroyed by the fires. On December 19, two volunteer firefighters were killed while battling the blazes in New South Wales.

The fires have also threatened koalas living in the wild. In a photo on Facebook, firefighters in Hawkesbury, New South Wales were seen pulling two koalas to safety next to a highway.

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