Forests turned to ash, homes reduced to rubble and thousands of koalas dead - but FINALLY a glimmer of hope: Remarkable pictures show the brave recovery effort on Kangaroo Island as ordinary Australians band together
- Rebuilding efforts are underway on Kangaroo Island after it suffered three weeks of devastating bushfires
- Celebrated bush pilot Dick Lang, 78, and his son Clayton, 43, died after battling the ferocious fires in January
- The blazes ripped through more than 210,000 hectares of land, destroying the Flinders Chase National Park
- Around 90 per cent of the island's koala population perished, with thousands more animals also burning
- But greenery is sprouting through the devastated landscape, bringing a glimmer of hope to the community
For 21 devastating days, Australia watched in horror as more than half of Kangaroo Island was reduced to cinders after a catastrophic bushfire ripped through 211,000 hectares.
Two people lost their lives and families were forced to flee, leaving animals and belongings behind, as they escaped to the mainland.
Now remarkable pictures show both the devastation and a glimmer of hope for the future, as residents begin to recover from this season's unprecedented fires.
The suffering began on January 4, when a fire killed celebrated bush pilot Dick Lang, 78, and his son Clayton, 43.
The fires, described at the time as 'virtually unstoppable', tour through their community as the men made the brave decision to stay and fight - but were overrun by flames as they drove along the highway.
With a perimeter of 640km, the bushfire scorched 210,712 hectares of land and destroyed at least 56 homes over the course of three weeks.
They were finally extinguished on January 21, after endless hours of toil by exhausted firefighters.
Owners of the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, Sam Mitchell (pictured, left) his wife Dana (right) and son Connor (centre) stand at the edge of the fire ground in Parndana
Two kangaroos are nursed back to health at the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park. They are the lucky ones, after 90 per cent of the island's koala population was wiped out
The Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park has treated 600 animals since the fires, 95 per cent of them being koalas.
Swatches of national park were lost, including Flinders Chase, killing tens of thousands of native animals as well as farming livestock.
Experts believe around 90 per cent of its koala population is now dead - with only 5,000 koalas left out of the original 60,000.
But the island's economy is reliant on agriculture and tourism, which is worth an estimated $180 million, so residents are scrambling to rebuild as soon as possible.
The South Australian Tourism Commission launched the #BookThemOut campaign to encourage tourists to visit the bushfire affected areas in the Adelaide Hills and Kangaroo Island, with the recent Kangaroo Cup Racing Carnival reaching record attendance this past weekend.
However, with the island known to be a popular tourism destination for Chinese tourists the local industry is now also being heavily affected by coronavirus.
Despite a mammoth effort head, locals are rallying round to rebuild their devastated communities and care for the injured wildlife.
A bushfire damaged car sits in front of a gutted property at the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat, on the edge of the Flinders Chase National Park
Yucca plants spring back to life among the bushfire damaged trees and flora along the South Coast Road towards Flinders Chase National Park
Sam Mitchell, owner of the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, releases a koala back into native bushland. He is one of the lucky 10 per cent of koalas who survived the fires
The usually lush landscape of Vivonne Bay is seen after the devastating three weeks of fires on Kangaroo island. Around half of Kangaroo Island, including much of the Flinders Chase National Park, was burnt
Signs of regrowth are seen among the bushfire affected blue gum forestry west of Parndana. Two people lost their lives, while tens of thousands of native animals and farming livestock were also killed
Vet nurse Nikki Anderson of Zoos SA weighs a male koala affected by the recent bushfires at the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park
Bushfire damaged land is seen from Stokes Bay Road on Kangaroo Island. Kangaroo Island's economy is reliant on agriculture and tourism, worth an estimated $180 million
Penny Lenehan Hawser, a ranger and keeper from Australia Zoo, assists the Kangaroo Wildlife Park team in koala care. Tens of thousands of koalas were killed during the fires
A young boy jumps off Vivonne Bay Jetty into the water on Kangaroo Island, as locals start to tentatively return to their normal lives
A koala affected by the recent bushfires is released back into native bushland following treatment at the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park
Dana Mitchell, owner of the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park feeds a koala joey affected by the recent bushfires inside the joey hospital alongside her son Connor
A kangaroo is seen at the bushfire damaged Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat at the edge of Flinders Chase National Park
Penny Lenehan Hawser, a ranger and keeper from Australia Zoo, assists the Kangaroo Wildlife Park team in koala care, feeding them by hand
Young boys swim around Vivonne Bay Jetty, as residents of Kangaroo Island begin to return to their normal lives after suffering three weeks of devastating bushfires
Signs of regrowth are seen among the bushfire affected blue gum forestry west of Parndana. Around half of the island was burnt by the bushfires
Barry Smith, a long time local and survivor of the 'Ash Wednesday Fires' walks through his bushfire damaged property in the Stokes Bay region
Young koalas affected by the recent bushfires sit amongst eucalyptus in a recovery pen at the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park
A kangaroo is seen at the bushfire damaged Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat at the edge of Flinders Chase National Park
Veterinarian Dr Elise Nishimoto of Kangaroo Island Veterinary Clinic and vet nurse Nikki Anderson of Zoos SA discuss treatment to a male koala
A blue gum forest, west of Parndana, is starting to recover from the bushfires - with hopeful signs of regrowth after blazes tour through Kangaroo Island
Bushfire damaged property owned by Barry Smith, a long time local and survivor of the 'Ash Wednesday Fires' in the Stokes Bay region
Dana Mitchell, owner of the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park feeds a koala joey affected by the recent bushfires inside the joey hospital
Along with other kindhearted animal experts, Dana Mitchell - owner of the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park - has been nursing the koalas back to health
Dianne Hakof, Hospital Manager Zoos SA and Veterinarian Dr Elise Nishimoto of Kangaroo Island Veterinary Clinic apply treatment to a male koala
A glimmer of hope is seen in the form of regrowing leaves in the bushfire-affected gum forests west of Parndana on Kangaroo Island
A kangaroo is seen at the bushfire damaged Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat at the edge of Flinders Chase National Park, which has destroyed by bushfires
Children are playing in the water at Vivonne Bay Jetty, as residents of Kangaroo Island start to return back to their daily lives
Those who embrace the true blue Aussie spirit can ...
by Wry Noceras 5