WELLINGTON (AFP) - Thousands of people have signed a petition for koalas to be introduced to New Zealand to escape Australia's devastating bush fires, but the proposal has been given the thumbs down by officials.

A group calling itself the Koala Relocation Society said koalas were "functionally extinct in Australia"but could thrive in New Zealand which has nearly 30,000ha planted in eucalypts, which are koalas' preferred food and shelter.