Summer is only beginning in Australia and with that comes this season's bush fires. Many homes have already gone up into flames as well as several acres of land and close to 20 people have already lost their lives. But I think the most heartbreaking part the many, many animals that have been killed as a result of those fires.
As of Monday, January 6th, there were 169 fires burning, 69 of which are still not contained.
They are nothing new in Australia. The main problem is, due to climate change, the fires have been becoming more intense and growing faster.
"The scale of these fires is unprecedented," said Dieter Hochuli, an environmental sciences professor at the University of Sydney. "There are substantial concerns about the capacity of these (ecosystems) to rebound from the fires."
Australia is home to a wide range of different types of flora and fauna. Early reports have estimated that Australia has already lost almost half a billion animals alone, many of which are only native to the country of Australia.
A third of the Kolas have already died in New South Whales as a result of the fire, they are "critically endangered" in one region and marked as vulnerable in several others. Most Kolas are killed due to a direct hit with the fires (whether it is through smoke or being burned to death). Although after these fires it is extremely likely that they will be considered all "critically endangered."And this is just one of the animals that people know about and want to save.
But what about all the others? All the way from the largest fastest reptile or mammal down to the littlest of bug. Whose out there looking for them and making sure they are protected?
As an environmentalist, the news in itself is absolutely saddening. I can't even begin to imagine what it is like to be on the ground there. Seeing all the helpless animals, injured or dead. The good news that there is help.
For the animals that do somehow manage to survive the fires, there are several people across the country trying to aid in any injuries they might have sustained. These include Veterinary Clinics, Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, and several zoos.
So while the fight is just beginning (and with all of the devastation that we have seen so far), there is hope. Maybe not as much as we might have wanted, but it's still there and there is still a possibility of it.