Lexi Webster
Australia is home to some of the world's most beautiful nature and wildlife found nowhere else on the planet. However, the country has the worst mammal extinction rate in the world, and over 2,000 species of plants and animals are at risk of extinction. In recent years, devastating bushfires have destroyed habitats and put countless species in danger, with over a billion animals perishing in the fires. Nevertheless, heroic efforts have been made to save Australia's wildlife, with volunteer firefighters, residents, and animal rescue organisations such as WIRES working tirelessly to rescue and rehabilitate sick, injured, and orphaned animals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of species under threat | 2000+ |
| Number of threatened species in the last decade | 163 |
| Number of native species lost to extinction in the last decade | 3 |
| Number of volunteer firefighters, residents, and animal rescuers involved in animal rescue efforts | Millions |
| Number of koalas rescued by firefighter Adam Mudge | 6 |
| Number of people arrested for deliberately lighting fires | 24 |
| Number of feral cats in Australia | 6 million |
| Number of native mammals that once inhabited the South Australian outback | 27 species |
| Percentage of native mammals that have become locally or completely extinct since European settlement | 60% |
| Number of native species reintroduced to outback South Australia by Arid Recovery | 4 |
| Number of animals rescued and rehabilitated by WIRES since 1985 | Hundreds of thousands |
| Number of people who have died in the brushfires | 27 |
| Number of structures that have burned in the brushfires | 2,000 |
| Number of acres of land torched by the brushfires | 18 million |
| Number of rock-wallabies saved by planes dropping vegetables | 1 |
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What You'll Learn
The impact of Australia's bushfires on wildlife
Australia's devastating bushfires of 2019-2020 have had a profound impact on the country's diverse wildlife, with nearly 3 billion animals killed or displaced, according to scientific estimates. This includes approximately 143 million mammals, 180 million birds, 51 million frogs, and 2.5 billion reptiles. The fires destroyed millions of hectares of land, leading to a tragic loss of habitat and food sources for many species. The impact of the fires on wildlife was exacerbated by the prolonged drought and rising temperatures associated with climate change, which made the fires more intense and frequent.
The bushfires not only caused physical harm but also had psychological impacts on both humans and animals. Many people experienced trauma due to emergency evacuations, loss of homes, and the death of pets, livestock, and wildlife. The stress and anxiety caused by the fires and their aftermath can have lasting mental health consequences for affected communities.
The fires also revealed the inadequate protection of Australia's unique wildlife and the lack of effective environmental laws and funding. Australia has the worst mammal extinction rate in the world, and the bushfires have further endangered many native species. The parma wallaby, for example, was added to the threatened species list in 2022, and the east coast koala and greater gliders were uplisted to Endangered the same year.
However, amidst the devastation, there were also inspiring acts of heroism and compassion. Volunteer firefighters, residents, and animal rescuers risked their lives to save countless animals. For example, firefighter Adam Mudge rescued at least six koalas from the Cudlee Creek fire in South Australia, and a kangaroo was spotted cooling off in a backyard pool in New South Wales, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of wildlife in the face of adversity.
The bushfires have served as a stark reminder of the urgent need for stronger nature laws, improved habitat connectivity, better fire management, and increased funding to protect Australia's precious and unique wildlife.
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Wildlife rescue organisations in Australia
Australia is home to some of the world's most beautiful nature and wildlife found nowhere else on the planet. However, the country also faces significant threats to its wildlife, including bushfires, floods, droughts, earthquakes, and cyclones. In addition, land clearing, deforestation, animal attacks, and disease further endanger Australia's unique fauna and flora.
Several wildlife rescue organisations are dedicated to protecting and conserving Australia's vulnerable species. One such organisation is Wildlife Rescue Australia (WRA), a non-profit, volunteer organisation that relies on donations to operate. WRA provides a 24-hour emergency response service, coordinating with home-based rescuers trained to assist in animal rescues. The organisation offers free membership and provides training to equip individuals with the necessary skills to rescue injured, sick, or orphaned native animals.
Another notable organisation is the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), which has implemented several initiatives to support wildlife rescue in Australia. IFAW created the Wildlife Rescue App, connecting people in New South Wales to local animal rescue groups. They also partnered with the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in Tasmania to establish a free wildlife hospital, ensuring that injured wildlife receives critical veterinary care.
In addition to these organisations, various individuals and groups have demonstrated remarkable heroism in rescuing animals from bushfires and other threats. During the devastating bushfires that ravaged Australia, volunteer firefighters, residents, and animal rescuers worked tirelessly to save numerous animal lives. For example, at the Cudlee Creek fire in the Adelaide Hills, a volunteer firefighter named Adam Mudge rescued at least six koalas from the intense blaze.
The efforts of these wildlife rescue organisations and individuals are crucial in mitigating the threats faced by Australia's unique and diverse wildlife. However, there is also a need for stronger nature laws and adequate funding to address the ongoing challenges of habitat destruction, global heating, and inappropriate fire management, among other issues, to ensure the long-term survival of Australia's precious flora and fauna.
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Feral predators threatening native species
Australia is home to some of the world's most beautiful nature and wildlife found nowhere else on the planet. However, Australia has the worst mammal extinction rate in the world, and this is largely due to invasive species. Invasive species are the most significant driver of animal extinction in Australia, and they are expected to cause 75 of the next 100 extinctions.
Feral predators are one of the most significant threats to native species in Australia. Feral cats and foxes are the most destructive, hunting and killing native birds, mammals, reptiles, and insects. Cats alone kill an estimated 75 million native animals across Australia every night. Foxes and feral cats have contributed to the extinction of 18 out of 21 extinct marsupials and rodents in Australia. They are also responsible for the loss of nine species from the mainland, which now only survive precariously on islands.
Rabbits are another highly invasive species, destroying vegetation that provides food and shelter for native animals, such as the Bilby, and boosting the number of predators by increasing the food supply for cats and foxes. Rabbits are the most destructive invasive species, impacting over 300 threatened species. Feral pigs are also a significant problem, destroying habitats and directly killing threatened species. They dig up and eat sea turtle eggs and hatchlings, and destroy vast areas of crops, wetlands, and floodplains.
Feral animals also carry diseases and parasites, which could be disastrous for the environment if they spread. They can also cause soil erosion and outcompete native species for food and shelter.
The Australian government has implemented various threat abatement plans to address these issues, but the problem persists, and urgent action is needed to protect native species.
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Australia's mammal extinction rate
Australia has the worst mammal extinction rate in the world. The country has had more mammal extinctions than any other country, despite not having the most mammal species. Australia's nature laws, known as the Environment Protection and Biodiversity and Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999, aim to protect and conserve the environment and nature, including threatened wildlife. However, the list of threatened native animals and plants continues to grow. In the last decade, three native species were lost to extinction, and many more have been added to the threatened species list, including the parma wallaby, the east coast koala, and the greater glider. The Australian government scored an F on several threatened species recovery indicators, indicating a need for urgent action to protect the nation's threatened species.
There are several reasons for Australia's high extinction rate. Feral animals and invasive species are major contributors, with cats being the main contributor to the extinction of 20 of Australia's 29 extinct mammal species. Climate change is another significant factor, with the Bureau of Meteorology attributing the increased fire risk in southern Australia to global warming. The Threatened Species Commission identified 119 animal species requiring urgent intervention to prevent extinction following the fires, including 20 mammals.
Habitat destruction, global heating, inappropriate fire management, and introduced predators also threaten Australia's wildlife. The Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) has successfully protected approximately 20% of the global Greater Bilby population at its Yookamurra and Scotia Wildlife sanctuaries in South Australia and NSW. Feral predator-free fences and effective feral animal control have allowed bilbies and other native mammals to thrive and reproduce.
The WWF-Australia's Threatened Species Report Card highlights the need for stronger nature laws and adequate funding to protect Australia's wildlife and their habitats. The report gives Australia an F grade for funding, recovery planning, and improving the threat status of precious species. Since 2022, 163 species have been newly listed as threatened, bringing the total number of threatened species in Australia to over 2,000.
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Australian government's response to wildlife protection
Australia's unique wildlife is currently facing an extinction crisis. The country has the worst mammal extinction rate in the world, and thousands of species are currently threatened with extinction. This is due to a combination of factors, including habitat destruction, global heating, inappropriate fire management, and introduced predators.
The Australian government's response to wildlife protection has been the subject of criticism from various organisations and individuals. The WWF-Australia's Threatened Species Report Card gave the government the worst possible score (an F grade) on several threatened species recovery indicators. This indicates that urgent action is needed to protect the nation's threatened species. The government has also been criticised for failing to deliver on its promise to reform nature laws, instead prioritising the interests of business and mining lobby groups.
Despite this, there have been some positive developments in the government's response to wildlife protection. In 2023, the Federal Government committed to strengthening national environmental laws with the goal of preventing any new extinctions. They have proposed a Nature Repair initiative. Additionally, the government has entered into legally binding conservation agreements with private landholders to protect and conserve biodiversity. The National Reserve System offers private landholders, such as farmers and graziers, conservation agreements to voluntarily place perpetual covenants over parts of their working properties, conserving land for future generations.
However, it is clear that more needs to be done to protect Australia's unique wildlife. Organisations like WWF-Australia and Humane Society International are calling for stronger nature laws and adequate funding to support species recovery and prevent extinction. They urge individuals to send messages to their local members of parliament, urging them to prioritise wildlife protection and strengthen environmental laws.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia has the worst mammal extinction rate in the world, with over 2000 species of plants and animals at risk of extinction. The country's nature laws, known as the Environment Protection and Biodiversity and Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999, aim to protect and conserve the environment and threatened wildlife. However, the list of threatened species continues to grow due to inadequate funding, weak environmental laws, habitat destruction, global heating, inappropriate fire management, and introduced predators.
Various organizations and individuals are working to rescue and protect Australian wildlife. WIRES, Australia's largest wildlife rescue organization, has been rescuing and rehabilitating sick, injured, and orphaned native animals since 1985. During the Australian bushfires, volunteer firefighters, residents, and animal rescuers worked tirelessly to save many animal lives. Additionally, people have been making wraps for orphaned baby bats, and planes have been dropping vegetables to feed starving animals like the rock-wallaby.
During the bushfires, a firefighter named Adam rescued at least six koalas from an intense blaze in Cudlee Creek, South Australia. At the Mogo Zoo in New South Wales, staff protected all 200 animals by removing flammable items, preparing water, and relocating larger animals to night enclosures. Additionally, a kangaroo named Mim was spotted cooling off in a backyard pool in New South Wales, and a dog named Taylor helped detect and save koalas and wounded wildlife in fire-affected areas.
Individuals can support organizations like WIRES, the Red Cross, St Vincent de Paul Society, and the Trustee for NSW Rural Fire Service & Brigades Donations Fund. People can also donate to and support the work of conservation groups like Arid Recovery, which is working to reintroduce native species and control feral predators. Additionally, advocating for stronger nature laws and increased funding for environmental protection is crucial to address the current challenges facing Australia's unique wildlife.
