Team surveys bush for koalas and other wildlife injured in Crestwood-Lake Cathie fire

The Crestwood-Lake Cathie bushfire aftermath is a national tragedy, a koala expert says.

Experts estimate between 200 and 350 koalas died when the fire ripped through crucial koala habitat.

Just over two-thirds of the fire ground footprint is prime koala habitat.

The koalas in that area are of national significance due to their genetic diversity.

Port Macquarie Koala Hospital clinical director Cheyne Flanagan said that made the aftermath of the fire a national tragedy.

"There was such a big, robust, healthy population that was away from cars, dogs and high incidence of disease," Ms Flanagan said.

The Lake Innes State Conservation Area and Lake Innes Nature Reserve hold the most important populations of koalas in NSW, she said.

A team from Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, along with representatives from Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, spent four hours methodically surveying about 100 hectares of burnt-out bush around the Googik Track off Crestwood Drive on Thursday, October 31.

Port Macquarie Koala Hospital assistant clinical director Scott Castle said it was a good result to find two live koalas, no dead koalas and evidence of other animal life.

The two koalas appeared to be healthy.

But the rescuers have yet to search the most significant koala habitat areas.

The undergrowth was gone in the searched area and trees charred up to about 12 metres.

Mr Castle said there was still much more area to search and they expected the impact to be a lot more devastating.

Koala hospital volunteer Sheila Bailey joined the search team.

"I'm just passionate about working with the koalas and working for the hospital and I just wanted to be there to help," she said.

Mrs Bailey fears the fire's impact on koalas will be devastating.

The bushfire, which continues to burn south of Port Macquarie, has covered more than 2550 hectares.

The search for injured koalas and other injured wildlife will continue once the NSW Rural Fire Service gives clearance to move into other areas.

Injured koalas will be taken to Port Macquarie Koala Hospital and other injured animals passed on to FAWNA.

Ms Flanagan believes the koala numbers will drop dramatically as a result of the fire.

"They will start breeding again provided the conditions are good but it will take an awful long time and it's going to make the animals that are left even more important," she said.

People are urged not to go onto the fire ground and leave the animal rescue to the experts, but if they see an injured koala on the side of the road, to call the koala hospital on 6584 1522.

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