Koala rescue teams are awaiting the green light to go in and assess the amount of wildlife lost in the massive Salt Ash bushfire.
Care and Rescue Coordinator for Port Stephens Koalas, Simone Aurino said the bushfire has "burnt a great deal of primary Koala habitat."
The blaze has scorched through 2041 hectares, with the number of koalas lost expected to be relatively high.
"All we can do is depend on calls from the public when they see [injured] animals," said Ms Aurino.
One of the issues facing Port Stephens Koalas is where the animals will be released once rehabilitated.
"When you have an area like the Tilligerry and Tomaree peninsulas we've only got the habitat there. There is nothing else connecting it.
"It's going to be a quite an issue if we can get animals, where do we relocate them? The impact of these fires is going to have long-reaching ramifications."
If you discover an injured koala you are urged to contact the Port Stephens Koalas rescue hotline on 0418628483.
Picture from Port Stephens Examiner.
