Battle to save Aussie wildlife as bushfires rage
BLUE MOUNTAINS: A possum severely burnt by bushfires in Australia’s Blue Mountains laps water from a bowl as her rescuer holds her gently in a towel, while at a nearby home a kangaroo with bandaged feet is rocked like a baby by another carer.
As Australia battles wildfires that have razed more than four million hectares across five states, volunteers are trying to save wild animals caught in the inferno.
Australia’s bushland is home to a range of indigenous fauna, including kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, possums, wombats and echidnas.
Officials fear that 30% of just one koala colony on the country’s northeast coast has been lost in the fires.
Authorities have no exact figure on how many native animals in total have been killed, but experts say it is likely to be in the millions.
Tracy Burgess, a volunteer at Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Services (WIRES), said it was very concerning that rescuers were not receiving as many animal patients as they would expect.
“We’re not getting that many animals coming into care,” Burgess said. “So, our concern is that they don’t come into care because they’re not there anymore.”
With limited government funds, WIRES relies heavily on donations from the public and volunteers like Burgess who care for the animals in their own homes. — Reuters