Australian Wildfires Enter Fourth Month... Koalas, Kangaroos and Other Wildlife Face 'Extinction Threat'

Large Wildfires in Australia Continue Since September Last Year
Experts Warn "1 Billion Animals May Face Extinction Risk"
WWF States "Wildlife Surviving Fires Still at Risk of Infection and Dehydration"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Gayeon] The fires that have been ongoing since September last year in southeastern Australia are estimated to have affected hundreds of millions of animals, including koalas and kangaroos.

Foreign media such as the UK’s The Sun released photos of animals affected by the wildfires on the 5th (local time).

The released photos show a koala wrapped in a blanket being given fluids via syringe and having burn ointment applied. Another photo depicts dozens of kangaroos that could not escape the fire lying collapsed in a field.

The New South Wales (NSW) Rural Fire Service announced that more than 200 fires have occurred across the state, declaring a state of emergency. Due to the ongoing fires, Sydney’s temperature reportedly soared to 50 degrees Celsius on the previous day (the 4th).

So far, more than 200,000 households have been damaged, and 24 people have died. It is reported that one-third of the koalas living in Australia, along with thousands of kangaroos, parrots, and other animals, have died.

Fire authorities stated that over 2,700 firefighters have been deployed to suppress the fires. A spokesperson for the fire department said, "The situation has improved today, and firefighters continue to extinguish fires at dangerous sites."

Experts warned that up to one billion animals, including mammals, birds, and reptiles, could face extinction due to this fire.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Australia told the media, "Many animals have adapted to cope with wildfires, but the current fires were too large and hot for wildlife to escape."

They added, "The number of wild animals dying from the fires will continue to increase. Even those that survive may be exposed to dehydration, starvation, and disease, and are vulnerable to becoming prey for wild foxes or cats."

The organization also said, "Even if animals are not directly burned, they risk dying from extreme heat. Additionally, smoke can cause them to lose their way, making it impossible to escape these large fires where flames rise up to 200 feet (about 60.96 meters) high."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.