Twenty orphan joeys take shelter from Grampians bushfires in carer’s living room

Incredible scenes were playing out in an Aussie’s living room as the Grampians bushfires raged.

As a devastating bushfire tore through Victoria’s Grampians National Park on Boxing Day, wildlife carer Pam Turner found herself facing a frightening reality.

With flames approaching her Wildwood Wildlife Shelter, she couldn’t bear the thought of abandoning the animals she had dedicated her life to protecting.

So, she sheltered the 20 orphaned kangaroo joeys inside her own home.

Each one had been rescued by Pam – orphaned through car accidents, fence hangings, and shootings – and painstakingly hand-reared back to health.

Wildlife carer Pam Turner sheltered 20 orphan joeys in her living room during Grampians bushfire. Picture: Facebook

Too large to be evacuated and too young to fend for themselves, they relied entirely on her care.

As the risk of fire raging closer grew, Pam activated her sprinkler system as a line of defence.

A video posted to Facebook shows the inside of her living room with joeys huddled together, their eyes wide with fear, yet strangely calm amid the chaos.

“It was a terrifying experience,” Pam recounts in her Facebook post. “The wind was getting stronger and so was my anxiety, but I couldn’t allow it to get out of control. There was lots of deep breathing and silent prayers.”

The Grampians, known as Gariwerd to traditional owners, have been ravaged by bushfires repeatedly in recent years.

The Grampians, known as Gariwerd to traditional owners has been engulfed by bushfires the ‘size of Singapore’. Picture: Facebook

This latest blaze has already scorched 75,000 hectares, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

Experts fear the impact on wildlife will be catastrophic.

While the full extent of the damage is still unknown, ecologists predict significant loss of life, particularly among ground-dwelling species. Kangaroos, though sometimes able to outrun the flames, often suffer burns and smoke inhalation.

Ecologists predict significant loss of wildlife, particularly among ground-dwelling species Picture: David Crosling

The impact of climate change

Pam’s heroic efforts to save her joeys underscore a grim reality: Australia’s wildlife is increasingly under threat from more frequent and intense bushfires, fuelled by a changing climate.

The Grampians, where Pam’s sanctuary is located, have become a stark example of this trend. According to Forest Fire Management Victoria, the park has experienced at least four major bushfires since 2006, impacting around 85 per cent of its land.

Dr John White, a wildlife ecologist at Deakin University, has been studying the impact of fire on the Grampians landscape since 2008. He notes that while fire is a natural part of the Australian ecosystem, the increasing frequency and intensity of blazes, driven by climate change, are disrupting the delicate balance.

Grampians has experienced at least four major bushfires since 2006, impacting around 85% of its land. Picture: NewsWire

His report, “The facts about bushfires and climate change,” states that “climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of dangerous bushfire conditions.”

They point to factors such as rising temperatures, increased drought, and changes in wind patterns as contributing to this heightened risk.

The consequences for wildlife are dire. As habitats burn and food sources disappear, animals face injury, starvation, and displacement.

The Climate Council warns that “extreme bushfires can cause significant wildlife deaths and injuries, with long-term impacts on biodiversity.”

Kelly O’Shanassy, the chief executive of the Australian Conservation Foundation, emphasises the urgent need for action: “Native species that relied on national parks like the Grampians for their habitat and survival are also being affected by more frequent and intense fires fuelled by climate change. There’s two things we can do that will really help save wildlife and help protect people. Let’s take real action on climate change. We need to stop digging up and burning fossil fuels … The second thing we need to do is stop bulldozing the bush.”