People escaping Kangaroo Island in the wake of devastating bushfire have been urged not to take injured koalas and other wildlife to the mainland for treatment. The Environment Department's recovery coordinator Brenton Grear said all injured animals must be managed locally. This was particularly important for the island's koalas which make up the only population in South Australia free of chlamydia. "We've received reports that some koalas from Kangaroo Island have been taken to Adelaide by people who want to get help for them," he said. "It's understandable and heartening that people want to rescue these animals, but unfortunately it will mean that those koalas can't be returned to the island because of the risk of contamination of the population there." Chlamydia in koalas can cause blindness, bladder inflammation, infertility and death. As the island's animals are isolated and free of the disease, its introduction would devastate the population. Mr Grear said because of the size of the fires burning on the island, it was too soon to know how many animals had been affected. South Australian Veterinary Emergency Management (SAVEM) has been activated to manage the wildlife rescue effort and is working with other groups in fire-affected regions. The island blaze remains uncontrolled and has already burnt through more than 100,000 hectares of scrub, including much of the Flinders Chase National Park. Australian Associated Press