According to experts, some 480 million wild animals have lost their lives in wildfires in Australia since September
The fires that have been ravaging Australia for several months have resulted in the death and injury of several people, the destruction of homes and buildings and the loss of millions of hectares of forest.
In addition to this, the flames also caused the death of a huge number of animals. Although it is very difficult to determine how many specimens lost their lives in the fires, it is estimated that about half a billion among mammals, birds and reptiles have died from September to today.
Koalas are certainly among the most affected species, but kangaroos, possums, wombats and bats are also decimated.
Il scorching heat and the shortage of food sources are, for example, putting a strain on bat population, important nocturnal pollinators: the Native Wildlife Rescue association rescues hundreds of them every day, but many are unfortunately dying from the fires.
Mass Flying Fox Rescue Flowing in from yesterdays record heat and very limited food supply the Grey Headed Flying…
Posted by Native Wildlife Rescue on Saturday, December 21, 2019
Un video heartbreaking show dozens of kangaroos fleeing the flames: The group was filmed running across the grasslands near the village of Bredbo, desperate to find shelter.
Numerous too animals on farms were injured or killed by the fires.
Steve Shipton, Coolagolite breeder, was forced to kill 20 of his cows seriously injured by the flames that hit his property.
The breeder, after having ascertained together with a veterinarian the severity of the burns reported by the specimens of the herd, decided to shoot animals to avoid them further suffering.
Steve Shipton shoots one of his cows. AAP Image / Sean Davey
As for wildlife, according to Mike Letnic, a professor of biology at the University of Sydney, it is not sure that the animals that survived the fires will be able to recolonize the area.
Many of the fires continue to get out of control due to the particularly dry climate and strong winds, and only when the fire is completely extinguished will the damage to wildlife be calculated and predict the species' ability to recover.
Read also:
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- Evacuated and rescued all 200 animals of the famous Australian zoo Mogo affected by the fires
- Koalas are dying burnt alive in fires in Australia - they could go extinct within 30 years
- RIP Lewis, the koala saved from the flames in Australia didn't make it
- The record heat in Australia is killing bats, birds and fish
