Australia govt announces $34m for fire-hit wildlife

Australian government has pledged 50 million dollars (approx. 34 million US dollars) to help restore and protect country's wildlife which has been devastated by wildfires.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said on Monday that fires have been an "ecological disaster".

He spoke as he visited a koala hospital in New South Wales state town of Port Macquarie.

conservation group WWF-Australia estimates that 1.25 billion wild animals have died during fires.

majority of estimated losses were reptiles, followed by birds, n mammals such as koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas and wombats.

WWF estimates re were between 100,000 and 200,000 koalas across Australia before fire season.

Estimated koala losses in current emergency include 25,000 on Kangaroo Island off sourn Australia and 8,000 in rthwest New South Wales.