An Australia in flames tries to cope with an 'animal apocalypse'
KANGAROO ISLAND, Australia - Sam Mitchell balanced himself on a eucalyptus branch 30 feet above the ground as his meaty right fist clutched a koala, which wailed like a pig with breathing problems. The dark gray marsupial batted its 3-inch black claws in the air helplessly, and minutes later Mitchell crawled down. He and the animal were safely on the ground.
Across much of Australia, volunteers and professionals are fighting to contain widespread blazes, with many also taking risks to save wildlife being killed by the millions. Kangaroo Island, a popular tourist destination and wildlife park off Australia's southeast coast, has been home to some of the worst damage to the nation's biodiversity. Fires have overrun nearly half of the 1,700-square mile island, and rescuers including Mitchell have
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