Bushfires affect habitat of more than 100 threatened species, department estimates

Original article by Mike Foley
The Age – Page: Online : 21-Jan-20

The federal Department of the Environment has released an initial analysis of the impact of the bushfires on the habitat of threatened species. It shows that more than 80 per cent of the known habitat of 49 listed species was within bushfire zones, as well as at least 50 per cent of the habitat of another 65 listed species. Professor Glenda Wardle from the University of Sydney warns that some threatened species will be even more at risk due to the bushfires, while the status of some species is likely to be upgraded to threatened. She adds that the majority of threated species that were hit by bushfires are plants rather than wildlife.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

Many, many billions of animals feared to have died in bushfires

Original article by Liam Mannix
The Age – Page: Online : 9-Jan-20

More than six million hectares of land have been razed by the bushfires in Victoria and New South Wales, and scientists have warned that the disaster has taken an enormous toll on wildlife. Professor Chris Dickman from the University of Sydney believes that up to 800 million animals may have perished in the NSW fires, compared with his initial estimate of 480 million. Experts have also warned that some endangered species may now be extinct, including the long-footed potoroo, whose last remaining habitat was in the fire zone.

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UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY