Extinction risk in fires

HUNDREDS of animal and plant species were affected by Australia’s devastating bushfires, with some now at increased risk of extinction because of the disaster.

More than 300 nationally listed threatened species were in the path of the fires, the bushfires royal commission has been told.

“The impact of the 2019-20 bushfires on threatened species and other flora and fauna has been severe,” Commonwealth threatened species commissioner Dr Sally Box told the inquiry yesterday.