NSW: Koalas' survival looks grim

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2006
NSW: Koalas' survival looks grim

The fate of thousands of koalas trapped by a raging bushfire in NSW's central west
are still unknown.

More than 82 thousand hectares have been scorched by a bushfire outside of Coonabarabran
.. since it ignited last month.

The fire has engulfed the nearby Pilliga Nature Reserve where thousands of koalas live.

A team of experts from Sydney's Taronga Zoo and the National Parks and Wildlife Service
have been waiting since Friday to enter the reserve .. and hope to access the area tomorrow.







But firefighters are getting the upper hand .. and expect to contain the state's two
largest fires within days.

The Pilliga Reserve fire should be contained within a week and the blaze in the Wollemi
National Park in the Hunter region should be contained in days.

Weather for tomorrow and Thursday is expected to remain mild and humid with north-easterly winds.

But thunderstorms will also arrive to central and western NSW .. bringing lightning
.. which started many of the bushfires last month.

It'll be dry and warm on Friday .. with temperatures to near 40 degrees in western
NSW and the low 30s along the coast.

AAP RTV vpm/klw/els/bart

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES NSW KOALA (SYDNEY)

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.