Nearly half a billion animals have been impacted by the fires in New South Wales alone, with millions potentially dead, according to ecologists at the University of Sydney. That figure includes birds, reptiles, and mammals, except bats.
In a grim video posted on Twitter, a man drives into the fire-ravaged town of Batlow, in the Australian state of New South Wales . Both sides of the road are covered with ash and lingering smoke. They're also littered with the charred remains of animals killed in wildfires that have ripped through the region.
The blazes, which have been burning across Australia for months, have razed homes and wiped out entire towns. Across Australia, nearly 18 million acres of land have been burned -- much of it bushland, forests and national parks, home to the country's beloved and unique wildlife. Nearly half a billion animals have been impacted by the fires in NSW alone, with millions potentially dead, according to ecologists at the University of Sydney.
Watch this thirsty koala guzzle a cyclist's water bottle 01:07Climate crisis and recovery in a changing landscapeThese animals' recovery depends not only on their population size, but also on the condition of their habitat. For instance, plants grow slower in high-altitude alpine regions, meaning it could be a very long time before species are able to return.Sometimes, even if a habitat heals, the animals don't come back.
Scientist: 'I'm certain' climate change caused Australia fires 12:11It's gotten so bad that the heat and drought were killing thousands of flying foxes even before the fires began."They've been falling out of trees in large numbers," Dickman said. Their population is"almost certain" to have depleted further now that fires have burned their habitat.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban Donate $500,000 To Australian Fire Relief As Their Home Falls Under ThreatNicole Kidman and Keith Urban donated half a million dollars to help fight ongoing Australian wildfires.
Read more »
Pink Donates Half A Million Dollars To Help Fight Australian WildfiresThe singer is doing her part to help fight the devastating wildfires in Australia.
Read more »
Chris Hemsworth Pledges $1M to Australian Wildfire Relief EffortsChris Hemsworth joins the list of celebrities who pledge to donate money to help fight the deadly Australian wildfires.
Read more »
Australian Air Force Plane Flying Through Red Smoke From WildfiresAustralian air force plane flying through red smoke from wildfires in shocking footage.
Read more »
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban Donate $500k to Fight Australian WildfiresNicole Kidman and Keith Urban pledge $500k to Australian wildfires.
Read more »