Devastation of bushfires could span decades - Environmental expert

More than one billion animals are thought to have been killed in bushfires across Australia but experts warn the environmental devastation could span decades or longer.

An injured brushtail possum retrieved from bushfires in Penrith, near Sydney Source: AAP

Experts first estimated that half a billion animals had been killed in the bushfires this season, but now believe more than double that figure has perished.

Bats, frogs and invertebrates haven't been included in the estimate of one billion which experts say is almost certainly an underestimate because of the groups it does not include.