Australia's Environment Minister Sussan Ley says the country's koala population has taken an "extraordinary hit" in the bush fire crisis and they could formally be classified as endangered. Ms Ley announced a $50 million wildlife recovery fund to help animal populations devastated by the summer's extreme bushfires. Meanwhile in New Zealand, more than 6000 people have signed an online petition calling for koalas to be introduced here as a way to save the species. But an ecologist says while the petition is well-meaning, the idea would be unlikely to work. Dr Andrea Byrom spoke to our reporter Andrew McRae.
13 Jan 2020
