Minton Farm sanctuary fears many animals perished in Cherry Gardens bushfire
The founder of a Cherry Gardens wildlife sanctuary fears the number of animals killed in the bushfire will be huge and highlights the need for a safety bunker.
SA News
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Minton Farm founder Bev Langley says she’s ready to take in animals injured in the Adelaide Hills bushfires, with her first patients – ringtail possums – already on the books.
Mrs Langley’s Cherry Gardens animal rescue sanctuary is looking after two ringtail possums after they were found suffering from burns and heat stress.
Mrs Langley says although her property was not directly under threat, the bushfire, which started Sunday evening, had inspired her to soon begin fundraising for a bunker at the Cherry Gardens Road site.
“I’d been out and I got home at four o’clock (on Sunday) and just as I turned the engine of the car off the siren went off,” she said.
She stayed on the property with the animals while her husband Glenn, who volunteers with the CFS, was filling up bombers with fire retardant at Cherry Gardens airport.
“Across the road from us we could see all the smoke billowing up and that went on for a long time,” Mrs Langley said.
“I filled up all the baths and got my fire uniform on and put the sprinklers on everywhere.
“Really, you haven’t got a hope in hell but you can only try.”
Mrs Langley and her team of volunteers have been looking after injured and sick animals at Minton Farm since the 1990s.
“It has brought home the fact that I think if we’re going to stay here with the animals we actually need to commit to fundraising and getting a fire bunker,” she said.
She fears the number of animals who have perished in surrounding conservation areas, including Scott Creek Conservation Park will be huge, given the fire’s size and intensity.
“All the wildlife is destroyed,” she said.
“Hopefully a lot have perished in the fire and won’t be hanging around for weeks burned – I hope it was quick for them.”
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