Port Macquarie Koala Hospital has lent its support to a special stamp series to encourage primary school children to become wildlife champions.
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Australia Post has released six stamps, highlighting some of the country's most vulnerable native species, to mark Stamp Collecting Month.
Koalas are among them.
The featured animals have been selected from those identified by the federal government's Wildlife and Threatened Species Bushfire Recovery Expert Panel as in need of immediate conservation management.
The 2019 bushfire season saw more than 12 million hectares burnt and an estimated loss of more than one billion animals.
Koala Conservation Australia president Sue Ashton said the special stamp series would engage children in animal preservation and conservation.
"All of the stamps feature animals that were really badly affected in the bushfires and it is going to give children the opportunity through campaigns and activities to become involved and understand these wildlife, and maybe adopt one of them," she said.
"If they can adopt wildlife now when they are young and develop that love and go through life respecting and caring for them, that has got to be a win for wildlife in Australia."
Port Macquarie Koala Hospital home carer Barb Barrett hopes the special stamp series will keep animal conservation in people's minds.
She said the bushfires' impact on koalas was absolutely devastating and heartbreaking.
An estimated 25 per cent of the most suitable koala habitat in eastern NSW was within the extent of the recent bushfires.
Port Macquarie Koala Hospital cared for 79 bushfire-affected koalas from across the state, including 53 with burns.
The bulk of the bushfire-affected koalas have been released.
Port Macquarie Koala Hospital's GoFundMe campaign, in response to the bushfire devastation, raised $7.9 million for wildlife drinking stations and to fast track the introduction of a wild koala breeding program.
Some 140 wildlife drinking stations have been installed across three states, while the koala hospital is putting the foundations in place for the wild koala breeding program.
Australia Post executive general manager community and consumer Nicole Sheffield said the Stamp Collecting Month theme of wildlife recovery aimed to inspire school students to learn more about Australia's wildlife and take an active role in protecting them.
"We want this year's Stamp Collecting Month to encourage a lifelong passion for Australian wildlife," she said.
There are also teaching resources to encourage education, literacy and sharing of knowledge about the threats to wildlife.
Australia's Threatened Species Commissioner Dr Sally Box said the recent bushfire tragedies highlighted the dangers facing Australian wildlife.
"The 2019-20 bushfires had a devastating impact on Australian wildlife and it's great to see Stamp Collecting Month reminding people how precious our native animals are."
The stamps and associated products are available in participating post offices, via mail order on 1800 331 794 and online while stocks last.
Education resources are also available online.
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