Australian Bushfire Rescue

An estimated one billion animals died in the horrific Australian bushfires last year. Through the help of tireless volunteers working to rescue the remains of their once-flourishing environment, stories of animal and human resilience have emerged. Rising from the ashes, animal survivors begin their challenging journey back to a wild existence in Australian Bushfire Rescue.

A series of digital shorts, produced by Nature, captured the immediate aftermath of the fires and relief efforts, including the rescue of an orphan wombat, the treatment of one of Australia’s deadliest snakes and the story of a selfless citizen who turned her home into an animal sanctuary. Inspired by those journeys, the 60-minute documentary will also follow iconic species like koalas, kangaroos and endangered species of parrots as they face a series of hurdles to recover from their trauma and go back into the wild. Their stories of rescue, rehabilitation and eventual release sit alongside the remarkable tales of human compassion and dedication from their rescuers and caretakers.

“With this documentary, we wanted to show the humanity that reveals itself through catastrophe,” said Fred Kaufman, executive producer for Nature. “The people who dedicate themselves to saving and rehabilitating these injured and traumatized animals are incredibly inspiring. It demonstrates how important it is to never lose hope, even in the worst disasters.”