On October 28th, 2020, NATURE premiered an hourlong broadcast special about Australia’s worst wildfires. Learn about Australian Bushfire Rescue HERE.
Australia is currently experiencing an unprecedented fire season, exacerbated by the warming climate, resulting in unfathomable loss of life and destruction of its wildlife and ecosystems. While firefighters and rescue workers work tirelessly to salvage the remains of their once-flourishing environment, stories of resilience, both animal and human, arise. NATURE is working with a team of producers on the ground to cover the devastating, heroic rescue and recovery stories from Southwest Australia. Follow our coverage to hear some of these stories of dedication, hope and survival.
VIDEOS
A baby wombat was saved from the devastating Australian fires.
Caregivers watch over a young lorikeet visibly traumatized by the Australian wildfires.
Watch as a caregiver feeds a joey who was rescued from the wildfires.
A carer carefully attempts to save one of Australia’s venomous snakes, the Tiger snake.
Only around 400 of these glossy black cockatoos existed on Kangaroo Island in Australia before the fires wiped out most of their habitat. We worked with producers on the ground to search for any survivors.
PHOTOS
Kangaroos
The following photos were taken on the South Coast of Australia the week of January 13, 2020. A selfless animal-lover named Adrina has turned her rural home into a koala sanctuary, where she’s taken in and nursed multiple kangaroos suffering from burnt feet and forelimbs since the fires started.
A recovering joey eats at the makeshift sanctuary. Photo by Anja Taylor
A recovering joey eats at the makeshift sanctuary. Photo by Anja Taylor
Recovering kangaroos at the makeshift sanctuary. Photo by Anja Taylor
A kangaroo hops through the makeshift sanctuary. Photo by Anja Taylor
Adrina feeds a recovering joey in her lap. Photo by Anja Taylor
A recovering joey rests in a pouch. Photo by Anja Taylor
An injured joey wrapped in a blanket. Photo by Anja Taylor
The following photos are courtesy of Sam, the owner of Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park and Lisa Karran, Kangaroo Island Wildlife Network carer, after successfully rescuing joeys stranded in the fire zone.
Four joeys recover swaddled in blankets. Photo courtesy of the Karran family.
A small joey clutches a comfort teddy. Courtesy of the Karran family.
The following photos of surviving kangaroos on burnt Kangaroo Island are taken by WildBear’s Anja Taylor.
Photo courtesy of Anja Taylor.
Photo courtesy of Anja Taylor.
Photo courtesy of Anja Taylor.
Koalas
A rescued koala eats. Video courtesy of the Karran family.
A recovering koala rests. Video courtesy of the Karran family.
A resting koala eats. Courtesy of the Karran family.
A surviving mother and baby koala. Courtesy of the Karran family.
A surviving koala clings to a burnt tree. Courtesy of the Karran family.
A rescued koala is examined. Photo by Anja Taylor.
Wombats
A recovering wombat is examined. Photo by Anja Taylor
A recovering wombat receives treatment. Photo by Anja Taylor
Possums
A thirsty possum. Photo by Anja Taylor.
Ellie Scutchings, volunteer and off-duty police officer, rescues a possum. Courtesy Anja Taylor.
Ellie Scutchings, volunteer and off-duty police officer, with an injured possum. Courtesy Anja Taylor
Tiger Snake
Volunteer rescue workers tend to an injured tiger snake. Photo by Anja Taylor.
An injured tiger snake is prepped for treatment. Photo by Anja Taylor
Birds
A flock of rare Glossy Black Cockatoos are spotted on Kangaroo Island after the fires. Only around 400 existed on the island before the fires which wiped out most of their habitat. These trees are their food source.
Photo courtesy WildBear / Anja Taylor
Photo courtesy WildBear / Anja Taylor
Photo courtesy WildBear / Anja Taylor
Photo courtesy of WildBear / Anja Taylor
Landscape
Smoke clouds block the sky on Kangaroo Island. Courtesy Jarrad Karran
Fires burn on Kangaroo Island. Courtesy Jarrad Karran
Aftermath of the bushfires on Kangaroo Island. Courtesy Jarrad Karran
Burnt out dunes. Courtesy Jarrad Karran
Emergency services on the scene. Courtesy Jarrad Karran
Courtesy Ellie Scutchings.
Courtesy Ellie Scutchings.