By EFE-EPA  A group of Bolivian volunteer firefighters has crafted a set of pouches and nests for baby koalas and kangaroos who have been orphaned by devastating wildfires in Australia. A volunteer firefighter handles the pouches and he and his comrades knitted for orphaned marsupials in Australia at their station in Cochabamba, Bolivia, on Friday, Jan. 17. (EFE-EPA/Jorge Abrego / MANILA BULLETIN) About 20 volunteer firefighters of the Special Rescue Brigade (GEOS) from the city of Cochabamba, decided to learn to knit so they could help the millions of animals that have lost their mothers, GEOS coordinator Carlos Azcárraga told Efe. The group learned the skill by watching videos online using wool and needles to craft pouches that aim to simulate marsupiums, the pouches where female kangaroo carry their young. "We did not know how to knit, but that has not stopped us helping in any way we can," volunteer Omar Loma told Efe. Despite the difficulties, they hope the effort put into each nest will be useful to small animals. "These pouches are warm and simulate the heat they got from their mothers. Hopefully, they can find in these nests an environment of shelter and comfort," Azcárraga said. Volunteers also weave other pouches shaped like "glasses" used for koala cubs. In a week, at least 25 little pouches in different colors have been crafted. The intention is to create around 60 and send them to Australia. Azcarraga said they have already contacted an animal shelter which has several animals in need and the first shipment will be made next week. "Hopefully they will be of great help to the animals that are suffering," Loma said. After sending the nests, volunteers will wait for the Australian shelter to tell them what their needs and requirements are although the group is expecting to make at least 200, Azcárraga said. "We do this with a lot of heart, with a lot of love, this is born from the depths of volunteers' hearts," said Loma. The group initially wanted to travel to Australia to help fight the raging fires but do not have the resources to make the trip, so they found a way to help with this initiative. "We could not be left out, we knew that it is very expensive to go to Australia, but we want to help," said the Bolivian coordinator. The charity initiative is open to anyone who wants to help. GEOS has at least 60 volunteers in Cochabamba and La Paz who help mitigate fires and save lives. They helped in at least 300 forest fires in Bolivia and also assisted in Chile, in addition to rescuing hundreds of animals in those catastrophes. Volunteers helped in the Bolivian Chiquitania fire, considered one of the most devastating of 2019, which scorched millions of hectares, as well as wildlife. "We understand to some extent what the Australian firefighters are witnessing every day. We know that it is of a greater magnitude, but hopefully, with this, we can help with something," said Azcarraga. Since last September, fires have swept an area of ​​more than 80,000 square kilometers and have killed 28 people in Australia. According to estimates by wildlife groups, forest fires have killed more than 8,000 koalas, a species already classified as vulnerable and threatened by drought, disease and deforestation. The severity of fires puts the existence of these marsupials at risk, of which there are around 80,000 individuals, according to the Koala Australia Foundation. Up to one billion animals, mainly mammals, birds and reptiles, have been affected as a result of these devastating fires, according to the estimate of Australian environmentalists.