Bushfires: Death of a billion animals raises extinction fears

At least one billion animals having been killed in the bushfires crisis sparking fears it would ‘hasten the ­extinction process’.

WIRES volunteer Morgan Philpott with koala Kurra Kellie in Kurrajong on Wednesday. Picture: Nikki Short

At least one billion animals across Australia have been killed in the catastrophic bushfires, and almost as many have been displaced, sparking fears it will ­“hasten the ­extinction process” of endangered species native to fire-affected zones.

University of Sydney ecologist Mathew Crowther said there were serious concerns about the fate of the long-footed potoroo, a small marsupial that is native to East Gippsland, which was ravaged by bushfires.

Ecologists were also worried about the dunnart, another small marsupial, which is unique to fire-ravaged Kangaroo Island. Early estimates suggested the island had lost half its wildlife population, but the full impact of the fires could not be evaluated until fire grounds were cleared and surveyed.

Professor Crowther said the nation’s koala population had been severely affected by the fires as they were unable to flee the blazes. “Other animals can fly away, or hop away or even burrow,” he said.

Animals that did survive, such as possums and kangaroos, have been singed and suffered burnt paws, while others were suffering from dehydration. “Carers, vets and wildlife hospitals can treat those injuries if they get to them,” Professor Crowther said.

The recovery of animals depends on how badly injured they are and they may need to stay in care until their habitat regenerates at least a little.

“If they are released at the right time and treated at the right time, they can survive,” Professor Crowther said. “It’s going to be hard to see the scale of what’s happened to the wildlife until the bushfires are over.”

He said millions of wild animals had also been displaced.