According to a joint study by WWF and a researcher from the University of Sydney, 1.25 billion mammals, reptiles, birds, frogs and invertebrates have died.
A massacre. The fires that have ravaged Australia since September 2019 have killed, directly or indirectly, 1.25 billion animals, according to a joint study by WWF Australia and a researcher from the University of Sydney, published on Tuesday 7th January 2020.
Read also: Fire in Australia: firefighters redouble their efforts before the next heatwave
Plus d’un milliard d’animaux auraient été tués par les feux en Australie, directement ou indirectement sur les 8,4 millions d’hectares déjà brûlés – selon une estimation du WWF Australie. #Australie #Feux https://t.co/oyq94ghIkF https://t.co/A9RhPKHFww
— WWF Climat (@WWF_Climat) 7 January 2020
The previous figure of 480 million animals, already dizzying, concerned only mammals, birds and reptiles in the state of New South Wales. If we add the frogs, bats and invertebrates throughout the national territory, we greatly exceed the billion dead, says Professor Chris Dickman.
The area of New Aquitaine goes up in smoke
Among the affected species are koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, flying possums and cockatoos.
“It will take decades for the many forests to regenerate and many species to risk extinction,” said Dermot O’Gorman, president of WWF Australia.
In all, 8.4 million hectares went up in smoke, the equivalent of the area of Nouvelle Aquitaine.
How to help animals?
If you want to support associations that help animals in Australia, you can donate to:
- L’association Wires
- Port Macquarie Koala Hospital
- Currumbin Institution (specializing in wildlife)
- The Science for Wildlife association (specialized in the preservation of koalas)
- Animal Australia
