Bushfires devastate Kangaroo Island farmers and timber industry amid heavy losses

More than 53,000 livestock, mostly sheep, were killed by bushfires that tore through the region in recent weeks.

That's more than double the estimated livestock losses from the bushfires on mainland Australia. And the number could well rise. Mayor Michael Pengilly estimates there could be as many as 100,000 dead.

John Symons stands in front of his damaged property.
John Symons lost most of his sheep and years of work in breeding. One family had four of their five farms burnt out. A wool grower has buried 5,000 dead sheep, more than half his flock.