Massive bushfires raging in Australia's New South Wales area may have killed up to 30 percent of the region's koalas, according to government officials.



Australia's Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley made the shocking revelation on ABC's AM Radio program on Friday.

"Up to 30 percent of the koalas in the region may have been killed, because up to 30 percent of their habitat has been destroyed," Ley said in the interview. "We'll know more when the fires are calmed down and a proper assessment can be made."

Ley also said that koala experts are working on a plan to establish a new area to release koalas that were saved and treated in hospitals due to the fires.