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The flames which have been consuming Australia for months, have razed homes and wiped out entire towns. Since the start of the 2019 fire season, a staggering 10 million hectares have been burned across the country. For comparison, the California fires of 2018 claimed about 800,000 hectares.
About half a billion animals have suffered from the blaze in the New South Wales state alone, with millions potentially dead, according to ecologists at the University of Sydney. These numbers include birds, reptiles, and mammals, except bats. Insects and frogs are also excluded from the list, meaning the true number is much higher.
However, like Josef Stalin once said, "The death of one ... is a tragedy. The death of millions is a statistic." So, to help you comprehend the devastating destruction of the bushfires, here is a list of before-and-after photos from the affected areas.
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#1
Kangaroo Island
I love Foxxy 4 years ago
Around one third of the island has been destroyed and a huge amount of koalas that are the only known chlamydia disease free colony in Australia. And sadly 2 lives lost, thousands evacuated, over 50 homes destroyed. There are only 2 places accessible for anyone and that is Kingscote and Penneshaw which are the closest areas to the ferry if a mass evacuation is needed. We have a fleet of public volunteers on the mainland on the ready if reinforcements are needed.
In the Australian capital Canberra - an administrative region surrounded by New South Wales - the air quality was rated the third worst of all major global cities on Friday. Also, the weather forecast predicts very hot and dry conditions, with strong winds and thunderstorms. This only increases further fire risk.
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#2
Tathra Beach, Nsw In Australia. Before And After The Smoke And Ash From Surrounding Fires Arrived. The Black Debris In The Bottom Photo Is Charred Wood And Ash Washed Up On The Shore
Ecologists have grave concerns for the future of unique and endangered wildlife on Kangaroo Island as well. There, bushfires have already killed thousands of koalas.
Fires on the island have destroyed 155,000 hectares of land, about one third of the island’s entire area. Most blazes have hit the biodiverse western areas.
The Kangaroo Island Land for Wildlife organisation has eight sites on private land where they protect various endangered species, including dunnarts, goannas, echidnas, bandicoots and the glossy black-cockatoos.
“People call this place a little Noah’s Ark. The island is a refuge. This is the largest fire we have seen in a long time,” ecologist at Land for Wildlife, Heidi Groffen told The Guardian, highlighting that all eight sites were extensively burned. Even the cameras they used for monitoring had melted.
#3
Kangaroo Island
Karma Thatcher 2 years ago
you cant rebuild animals they dont just get redorn when you say you come and we dont make them we brake them so what we need to do is look after them not money people need to see that we cant keep doing this
#4
Mogo Wildlife Park
I love Foxxy 4 years ago
In case anyone is worried about the animals in Mogo zoo they are all safe.
#5
2 Hours Before vs. 3 Days After. This Is The Devastation Left By The Fires In Sarsfield, Victoria. Still Can’t Believe The House Still Stands
#6
Cobargo's Historic Main Street
#7
Genoa Bridge
#8
Mallacoota Wharf
How Terribly Unfortunate 4 years ago
This is just so saddening to see. Everything is so red and it's horrifying to think that this is actually happening while most other people sit cozy in their homes, utterly oblivious.
#9
Wildlife Sanctuary In Canberra, Au Before And After Fire
#10
Before And After For One Australian Family
#11
Before And After Of Sydney Due To Smoke From The Rampant Bush Fires
#12
Australia’s Smoke From The Bush Fires Means You Can’t See Mt Cook In New Zealand. Look At The Before And After Pictures
Gem Morris 4 years ago
These photos are of different lakes. You can't see mt cook from the location of the 2nd photo anyway.
#13
This Is Cobargo, Before And After Today. This Is... Unbelievable
#14
Betka Road
#15
The Scenic Town Of Mallacoota
#16
The Same Day... Before And After Of The Tianjara Fire Burning In The Shoalhaven
#17
This Is The View Today Compared To The Same Time Last Year Where We’re Staying In Merimbula With Our In-Laws For Our Summer Holiday. We Can Hear Firefighting Helicopters Landing At The Airport Below But Cannot See A Thing
#18
Batemans Bay Mini Golf
Lynn Morello 4 years ago
This would be absolutely terrifying for everyone in the area. My heart goes out to every one, all the animals. Please take care of yourselves. And a big thankyou for all our heroic fire fighters and emergency services.
#19
Araluen Motor Lodge
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What do you think ?
Exadoor Rising123 4 years ago
This is all so heartbreaking. So many lives lost both human and animal. It will take a long time for Australia to recover from this. I fear the economy will take a huge hit.
Caroline Driver 4 years ago
Aussies are damn tough though. They will recover, and so will the land, but the animals lost and towns wrecked will take a good while to come back
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Ian Scott 4 years ago
Tyler Duffy, get your facts straight https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/08/police-contradict-claims-spread-online-exaggerating-arsons-role-in-australian-bushfires?CMP=fb_gu&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR2UksB3eSUnLG4Wur9MHidF_wIROTYTAKOy8gR7VvEqBcpndSbztrxyeyw#Echobox=1578487678
Hocus Pocus 4 years ago
As an Aussie the ignorance on the internet is disturbing.
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Exadoor Rising123 4 years ago
This is all so heartbreaking. So many lives lost both human and animal. It will take a long time for Australia to recover from this. I fear the economy will take a huge hit.
Caroline Driver 4 years ago
Aussies are damn tough though. They will recover, and so will the land, but the animals lost and towns wrecked will take a good while to come back
Load More Replies... Ian Scott 4 years ago
Tyler Duffy, get your facts straight https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/08/police-contradict-claims-spread-online-exaggerating-arsons-role-in-australian-bushfires?CMP=fb_gu&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR2UksB3eSUnLG4Wur9MHidF_wIROTYTAKOy8gR7VvEqBcpndSbztrxyeyw#Echobox=1578487678
Hocus Pocus 4 years ago
As an Aussie the ignorance on the internet is disturbing.
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