National Parks defends fire management strategies
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The National Parks and Wildlife Service has defended its fire management strategies in the north-west of New South Wales after the feared loss of a significant koala colony in a bushfire.
The fire has burnt out more than 82,000 hectares around the Pilliga Nature Reserve, 450 kilometres north-west of Sydney.
Tony Fleming from National Parks and Wildlife says the current program of hazard reduction burning is appropriate.
"It is an unfortunate fact of any fire that wildlife can be affected, that is the nature of wildlife but we believe we are approaching our fire management responsibly with the koalas fully in mind as well as the protection of people and people's property," he said.
"We are in one of the worst droughts we have had, which accounts for the sort of fire season we are having."
