According to a University of Sydney report commissioned by WWF Australia, more than 60,000
In total, about 143 million mammals, 2.46 billion reptiles, 181 million birds and 51 million frogs lived in the burned areas.
The study clarifies data on specific animal species. Among the victims:
- 50 million local rats and mice;
- 40 million possums and gliders;
- 5.5 million bettongs, bandicoots, quokkas and potruos;
- 5 million kangaroos and wallabies;
- 5 million bats;
- 1.1 million wombats;
- 114 thousand echidnas;
- 61 thousand koalas;
- 19 thousand quolls and Tasmanian devils;
- 5 thousand dingos.
The fires affected more than 41,000 koalas on an island in South Australia, over 11,000 in Victoria, almost 8,000 in New South Wales and almost 900 in Queensland.
Examining how many animals were affectedfrom the fires, led by Dr. Lily van Eden under the supervision of Professor Chris Dieckman of the University of Sydney's School of Life and Environmental Sciences. Their recommendations include mapping and monitoring plants and animals in regions most at risk of future fires, and developing strategies to protect these areas during fires.
People were shocked by our research and told me, “We cannot allow disasters of this magnitude to continue in the future.”
Professor Chris Dickman from the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney.
WWF Australia chief executive Dermot O'Gorman said koala numbers in New South Wales and Queensland were already in rapid decline before the fires.
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