The bushfire has killed almost half a billion animals in Australia: The University of Sydney estimates the report
-Adnan Mahfuz Tazvir(class VIII – English version,
Motijheel Ideal school and college, Dhaka.)
At least 18 people have died so far in Australia. The country has also instructed thousands of tourists to relocate. Besides, wildlife has been severely damaged in the fire. On Thursday, an international media report said that the bushfire in Australia had killed almost half a billion animals.
Devastating fires have ripped through the states of Victoria and New South Wales in the past couple of days, leaving several people dead or missing. Ecologists from the University of Sydney now estimate 480 million mammals, birds and reptiles have been lost since September with the figure likely to continue to soar.
Authorities said that they had been ordered the tourists to leave the place shortly before Saturday. The weather forecast of the country has said warm air and temperatures are expected to be above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
Thousands of koalas have been burned in the fire. Most of it lived in the forests of Australia. Koalas have been among the hardest hit of Australia’s native animals because they are slow-moving and only eat leaves from the eucalyptus tree, which are filled with oil, making them highly flammable. About 8000 of the koalas – a third of the entire Koala population of the mid-south coastal region of the state of New South Wales – are believed to have been killed in less than four months. The creature is at risk of extinction.
Eyewitnesses said numerous animals were burnt to death in various places. Many other birds, including Cockatoo, have been found dead lying under the trees. Farmers who had taken shelter in different areas to escape the fire later returned home and saw ashes of burnt cropland, livestock and wildlife.
Environmentalist Mark Graham said numerous animals had been burnt to death in this ‘hot and fast’ fire. The vast area is still burning. It is feared that more animals will die in the days ahead.
