Scientist Warns of ‘Extinction Crisis’ as Australia Wildfires Wipe out a Billion Animals
By Andy Wells
The devastation from the Australia wildfires has reportedly wiped out a billion animals, leading to what one scientist describes as an “extinction crisis”.
Professor Chris Dickman told Metro that the fires mean the total dead could rise in the coming weeks and months, as temperatures in the country start to rise again.
Worse still, Prof Dickman, a leading ecologist from the University of Sydney, believes some species may be wiped out for good due to a lack of wet refuges.
He told the paper: “Some of the species which are of greatest concern already have small populations and restricted geographical distributions…
“In previous fires that have been less intense, you can expect to find an area around a wetland patch or a swamp, but it’s not clear from what we’re seeing that those refuges will be found.
“We’re desperately hoping they will be. If they’re not it’s going to bad news for a whole range of species.”
Previous estimates of animals killed in the fires were in the range of half a billion , with 8,000 koalas wiped out in New South Wales alone - nearly a third of the total population in the region.
More koalas – who eat leaves on highly flammable eucalyptus trees – are feared dead in other areas.
Recent video footage showed desperately thirsty koalas clinging to cyclists while being given water to drink, while kangaroos were seen fleeing terrifying walls of fire .
Harrowing images have also showed the cockatoos falling dead out of trees.
Residents in the path of wildfires razing southeast Australia have been urged to evacuate as hot and windy conditions are forecast to escalate the danger over the next two days.
The New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS) told fire-weary community meetings south of Sydney in the coastal towns of Nowra, Narooma and Batemans Bay that northwesterly winds were likely to once again drive blazes towards the coast.
People on holiday have retreated to beaches and into the ocean in the area in recent weeks as destructive fires and choking smoke encroached on the tourist towns, scorching sand dunes in some places.
In the neighbouring state of Victoria, fire-threatened populations were also urged to act quickly on evacuation warnings.
"We can't guarantee your safety and we don't want to be putting emergency services - whether it be volunteers or paid staff - we do not want to put them in harm's way because people didn't follow advice that was given," Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said.
The unprecedented fire crisis in southeast Australia has claimed at least 26 lives, destroyed more than 2,000 homes and shrouded major cities in smoke.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has come under withering criticism both at home and abroad for downplaying the need for his government to address climate change, which experts say helps supercharge the blazes. – Yahoo News
According to Jenna Amatulli (HuffPost) American firefighters were welcomed with applause and cheers in the Sydney, Australia , airport this week as they arrived with gear in hand to help fight against the wildfires currently ravaging the country.
This is the first time since 2010 that the U.S. has sent firefighters to help Australia battle wildfires. The National Interagency Fire Center, the government agency coordinating the U.S. firefighters going to Australia, told the Los Angeles Times that “roughly 100 firefighters” had been sent in December and early January, with “50 to 60 more planned to be dispatched” this week.
Canada has also sent firefighters to Australia for the first time. Those firefighters were also received with cheers at the airport, according to a New York Times Australia correspondent on the scene.
Estimates say the wildfires will leave more than 1 billion animals dead, and will cause the loss of 30% of koalas’ key habitat in New South Wales and potentially a third of the animal’s population in that region.
The fires have also left 26 people dead, caused the damage and destruction of more than 2,000 homes, and covered an area of 31,000 square miles.
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