Australia’s fires have burned more than 14 million acres, an area bigger than New Hampshire and Vermont combined. Two dozen people have died, as well as 1 billion mammals, birds, reptiles and insects. Many of the animals, like koalas and kangaroos, are unique to the country. The world is already in the midst of a mass extinction event, and these climate disasters just speed it along.
Australia fires are part of the ‘sixth extinction’ of plants and animals
Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Services (WIRES) volunteer and carer Tracy Burgess holds a severely burnt brushtail possum rescued from fires near Australia’s Blue Mountains, December 29, 2019. Credit: REUTERS/Jill Gralow.
Credits
Guest:
- Elizabeth Kolbert - covers the environment for the New Yorker - @ElizKolbert