The Australian Government has identified 113 animal species which will need “urgent help” after their numbers and habitat were devastated by the recent bushfires. The list includes 13 birds, 19 mammals, 20 reptile, 17 frog, five invertebrate, 22 crayfish and 17 fish species.
For this provisional list, factors in identifying the high priority animal were based on the extent to which their range has been potentially burnt, how vulnerable they were before the fires, and the traits that influence their vulnerability to fire.
Researchers feared more than 1 billion animals perished in the wildfires, with almost all species on the list having lost at least 30% of their habitat.
Some species were considered threatened before the fires, and now the fires have brought them even closer to extinction. However in a welcome finding, there appeared to be no extinctions.
Last month, Australia pledged AUS$50 million (HK$261 million) to wildlife and habitat recovery. Money will be spent on animal treatment, food drops and pest animal control programmes.