A six-month-old kangaroo (L) stands beside his mother in their enclosure during his official presentation at Berlin Zoo August 10, 2010.
A six-month-old kangaroo (L) stands beside his mother in their enclosure during his official presentation at Berlin Zoo August 10, 2010. Reuters/Fabrizio Bensch
A six-month-old kangaroo (L) stands beside his mother in their enclosure during his official presentation at Berlin Zoo August 10, 2010. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch (GERMANY - Tags: ANIMALS)

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) appealed for donations from other countries of kangaroo pouches after the wildfire caused joeys to be orphaned.

At the same time, it asked those who sent mittens for koalas whose paws were burnt to stop sending because they now have an excess in supply as they received thousands of knitted koala mittens from the UK, US, China, Russia, Kazakhstan and Canada, reports the Telegraph.

YouTube/Olivia Potter

The pouch liners would be for young kangaroos, possums and wallabies injured or left without parents, the IFAW said. To guide would-be donors, the fund provides detailed instructions on its Web site on sizes preferred. It said the pouch need not be knitted but could be made from bed sheets or flannelette.

"Those joeys need to be kept warm and quiet in a 'pouch' like environment so carers use sewn pouches," the fund explains.

In early January, bushfires razed large parts of South Australia and Victoria, which burnt 12,500 hectares of bushland and negatively impacted the two states's fauna.

While many older kangaroos were able to flee the blaze because of their speed, the joeys and smaller animals such as koalas and other younger and slower creatures were badly affected since they couldn't escape the fire's wrath.

The fund said it needs a big number of pouches since the animals use six of it daily.

As for those who have started to knit koala mittens, IFAW said, "Don't worry if you've still got mittens to send or have already started some. Please finish these off and send them in - sadly we will always need a good stockpile for the inevitable bush fires yet to come. Just don't start any more!"

ITV reports that nine young kangaroos were just rescued and undergoing treatment for serious burns. The joeys are less than six months old and are suffering from burns on their feet and faces. Some also suffer from side effects such as loss of fluid and struggling to maintain body heat.

YouTube/teleSUR English

The nine joeys, rescued by the South Australian Veterinarian Emergency Management, were brought to the Adelaide Zoo for treatment.

The joeys are eventually released in the wild after their wounds have healed and they have been rehabilitated.

To contact the writer, email: v.hernandez@ibtimes.com.au