Australia has become a headline fixture in recent months with the world gripped by apocalyptic images of blood-red skies and fleeing families.
As the most devastating bushfire crisis on record continues to rage, the wildlife population remains under threat.
WATCH BELOW: Australia Zoo Takes In Thousands Of Animals Affected By Bushfires
Although difficult to put a number against the true scale of devastation, over 10.7 million hectares of Australian land is believed to have burned so far with more than one billion animals, that’s excluding insects, fish, frogs and bats, having lost their lives.
“These fires have affected many plant and animal species, spanning our rainforests, woodlands, forests and alpine regions,” Associate Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at Deakin University, Euan Ritchie, explains.
“This includes the long-footed potoroo, brush-tailed rock-wallaby, glossy black cockatoo, diamond python, Forrester’s and Betka Bottlebrushes and the leafless tongue-orchid.”
When faced with the hard facts, it’s difficult not to feel helpless but there are a number of ways in which you can support animals affected by the Australian bushfire crisis.
“There are many things people can do to help. We can donate to organisations funding wildlife rescue and environmental recovery, such as Zoos Victoria and the Ecological Society of Australia,” Ritchie says. “People in fire-affected areas can leave water dishes out for wildlife but feeding animals without expert advice and approval isn’t advised.”
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“More broadly, we can all take time to think about how our lifestyle choices – such as what we eat, the clothes we wear and how often we buy them and how much we travel – affects our environmental footprint, climate change and hence extreme events such as these terrible fires.
We can all make positive changes in our lives that together will help contribute to a more sustainable and safer world to live in, for people, plants and wildlife.”
We’ve listed the ways in which you can help animals affected by the Australian bushfire crisis below:
Adopt a tree to help the koala population
An estimated 8,400 koalas are thought to have perished in New South Wales alone while Kangaroo Island has lost over 50% of its koala population.
In order to help save the species from extinction, a number of organisations are encouraging members of the public to adopt a tree, this may be a Tallowood, Forest Red Gum or Swamp Mahogany, to help provide koalas with fresh leaves to feed on.
Trees can be purchased through a number of companies including Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie, the Australian Koala Foundation and WWF Australia.
Where to donate to help animals affected by the bushfire crisis
A number of organisations are seeking vital funds to help feed, hydrate and care for injured animals affected by the bushfire crisis.
WWF Australia
The global wildlife organisation is looking for monthly or one-off donations from members of the public to help provide a swift response to the fires ravaging the nation.
Contributions will not only help to restore habitats which have been destroyed but will also put plans in place to help mitigate climate change and kickstart wildlife conservation projects post-crisis.
Whether you pledge a small one-off donation or commit to monthly payments, WWF Australia will use the money to help secure the future of Australia’s wildlife.
The RSPCA
The RSPCA in New South Wales is currently helping members of the public keep their pets and livestock safe amid the bushfire crisis by assisting in mass evacuations.
Volunteers are also entering cleared fire zones in order to help save injured animals affected by the disaster. Work will of course continue once the fires have ceased with the numbers of injured animals uncertain.
The Petbarn Foundation
The Petbarn Foundation is offering support to organisations of which are tirelessly helping pets and wildlife affected by the bushfire crisis. Donations from the public will help fund vital supplies needed everywhere from evacuation areas to emergency sites.
“People who have donated to the Petbarn Foundation have helped provide care and treatment for thousands of fire-affected animals including the donation of 40 carriers to the RSPCA SA to ensure koala’s healing from burn injuries have a safe space to recover on Kangaroo Island,” Scott Charters, the Petbarn Foundation Chairperson, told marie claire Australia.
“In January, the Petbarn Foundation donated $100,000 in pet food delivering over 65,000 meals to evacuation centres and rescues. We will continue to provide more food, supplies and veterinary assistance to our partners on the frontline – this includes Vets Beyond Borders, Wires Wildlife Rescue, Animal Rescue Collective, Sydney Dingo Rescue – as recovery from this level of devastation will take time.
It’s never been more important to support Australian pets and wildlife than it is right now.”
Donate to the Petbarn Foundation
WIRES Wildlife Rescue
Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park
Australia Zoo
Australia Zoo set up a bushfire appeal in response to the crisis and has already surpassed its initial goal thanks to a large number of donations from across the world.
This has enabled the organisation to begin building a ward for rescued flying foxes, to send medical supplies to wildlife rescuers on the frontline and to create an intensive care ward for the ever-growing number of koala patients.
But more funds are still required to help the ongoing influx of saved animals being brought into the zoo for care.
Zoos Victoria
Zoos Victoria, which manages three wildlife centres in Mallacoota, Bairnsdale and Corryong, is busy providing veterinary treatment and refuge for both on the frontline and on site.
The non-profit organisation is also already working on habitat restoration projects and supplementary feeding options for animals living in impacted areas. But with such a huge task to take on, the schemes will take years to complete and require a large amount of resources and funding.
In order to achieve their goal, Zoos Victoria has founded the Bushfire Emergency Wildlife Fund 2020 where members of the public can donate whatever they can afford.
How to help animals during the bushfires
Although wildlife experts and volunteers continue to save and rehabilitate animals affected by the wildfires, there are a number of ways in which members of the public can help.
- If you see an injured, distressed or orphaned animal during the bushfire crisis, you can call the Wildcare helpline for assistance and the team will do everything in their power to rehabilitate and care for the animal where possible.
- Keep a cardboard box and towel in your car in case you come across an injured animal and that way, you can safely carry them to safety without putting yourself in danger.
- If you are attempting to rescue a burned animal, make sure to wrap them loosely in 100% cotton fabric and keep the animal in a well ventilated box until you seek medical assistance.
- WIRES advises that members of the public do not attempt to save snakes, flying-foxes or raptors. Instead, contact a trained specialist for rescue assistance.
- If you live in an affected area, you can leave bowls of water out to help animals and birds fleeing the fires. Make sure to use shallow bowls with stones on one side to allow smaller animals to escape if they fall in. Pools may also attract dehydrated animals escaping the fires so make sure there is a way for them to climb out in case they accidentally fall in.
For further advice, please visit the WIRES.
Australia has become a headline fixture in recent months with the world gripped by apocalyptic images of blood-red skies and fleeing families.
As the most devastating bushfire crisis on record continues to rage, the wildlife population remains under threat.
WATCH BELOW: Australia Zoo Takes In Thousands Of Animals Affected By Bushfires
Australia has become a headline fixture in recent months with the world gripped by apocalyptic images of blood-red skies and fleeing families.
As the most devastating bushfire crisis on record continues to rage, the wildlife population remains under threat.
WATCH BELOW: Australia Zoo Takes In Thousands Of Animals Affected By Bushfires
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