Kelly Slater lists backburning mismanagement among Australia’s bushfire lessons

Horrified by what he’s seen in a country he visits every year — surfing legend Kelly Slater has weighed in on the lessons in the catastrophe.

Surfing legend and prominent environmental activist Kelly Slater hopes Australia learns from the catastrophic bushfires burning across the country.

The 47-year-old, who has travelled Down Under every year for the best part of three decades, has been stunned by the images coming out of NSW, Victoria and South Australia — and was particularly moved by an image of a charred joey trapped in a barbed wire fence.

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“I’m not sure a picture could better sum up the fear and devastation more succinctly,” Slater wrote.
“I’m no expert but from the messages and reading I’ve done on the subject, mismanagement of forest underbrush backburning in the winter months and overall water resources have helped create a perfect storm in the face of this drought.

“I hope there is a silver lining and important lessons learned from the ongoing catastrophes once the dust settles …

“Hoping for safety and refuge for all my human and animal friends down under.”

Aussie surfing greats Joel Parkinson and Mick Fanning have joined a host of sporting names getting behind fundraising causes.

The world champions are taking part in an auction where the winner will join them for a day of surfing.