Bushfires: $50m pledge to protect native animals

The federal government will pledge an initial $50 million to protect native animals in bushfire-affected areas.

A koala burned in the bushfires is treated at Kangaroo Island Wildlife Zoo. Picture: Getty Images

The federal government will pledge an initial $50m to protect native animals in bushfire-affected areas, and work with scientists, ecologists and communities on longer-term protection and restoration efforts.

The move follows estimates by WWF Australia that the nation’s bushfire crisis has killed about 1.25 billion animals.

The funding will be used to help care for injured wildlife, secure ­viable populations of threatened species, control feral predators and weeds, and scientifically map the impact of the fires.

It’s understood a panel of experts will be chaired by the Threatened Species Commissioner, and zoos will get some of the money for wildlife treatment and the establishment of insurance populations.

Josh Frydenberg and Environment Minister Sussan Ley will announce the funding at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital on Monday, describing it as a “downpayment” on future spending.

“This initial investment of $50m into the protection and restoration of our wildlife and habitat is a critical step in creating a viable future for animals that have survived,” the Treasurer said.

Ms Ley said the bushfires were an “ecological tragedy” but the extent of the losses to animals and habitat could not yet be accurately determined. “We know our environment has an enormous ability to recover and we need to engage communities, volunteers and experts to support that,” she said.

WWF Australia said it had calculated the losses from the fires using methods previously used to determine the impact of land clearing on Australian wildlife.