Australian bushfires leave grisly trail of environmental damage

Tens of thousands of iconic Australian creatures including koalas and kangaroos may have died in fires that swept through vast tracts of southern Australia this week, environmentalists say.

The blazes have devastated thousands of hectares, razed clusters of homes and claimed one life since they began earlier this month.

But they will also leave a significant environmental legacy because of their impact on flora and fauna, according to Wildlife Victoria spokeswoman Sandy Fernee.

"I think we've already lost tens of thousands of animals when you consider how widespread the fires are," she told AFP.