More than 800million animals have been killed by bushfires\nin New South Wales alone – and that figure is expected to climb. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The University of Sydney Science Professor Chris Dickman initially estimated 480million wildlife died in the fires that have ravaged NSW. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But he has now revised that figure to almost double after\ntaking into account mammal, bird and reptile density in the 5.2million hectares\nof land which have burned across the state. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professor Dickman said it was ‘a very sad time’ for the\nnative species of Australia, 244 of which can’t be found anywhere else in the\nworld. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
More than 800 million animals have been killed by bushfires\nin New South Wales with more deaths expected if the fires continue at their\ncurrent rate. Pictured: A wildlife rescuer whisking a koala away from danger +5<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More than 800 million animals have been killed by bushfires\nin New South Wales with more deaths expected if the fires continue at their\ncurrent rate. Pictured: A wildlife rescuer whisking a koala away from danger<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professor Chris Dickman said it is ‘a very sad time’ for the\nnative species of Australia, many of which can be found nowhere else in the\nworld. Pictured: Firefighters combat a blaze in outer Sydney +5<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professor Chris Dickman said it is ‘a very sad time’ for the\nnative species of Australia, many of which can be found nowhere else in the world.\nPictured: Firefighters combat a blaze in outer Sydney<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘I think there’s nothing quite to compare with the\ndevastation that’s going on over such a large area so quickly,’ he told US\nradio station KOSU. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘It’s a monstrous event in terms of geography and the number\nof individual animals affected.’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The animal death toll for NSW includes animals directly\nkilled by the fires, from loss of food and shelter or from opportunistic\npredators like feral cats and foxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Affected mammals include iconic native species like\nkangaroos, koalas and wombats and lesser known fauna such as the spotted-tail\nquoll. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also included in the estimate were birds and reptiles while\ninsects, bats and frogs were not taken into account. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Affected mammals include iconic native species like\nkangaroos, koalas and wombats and lesser known fauna such as the spotted-tail\nquoll. Pictured: A kangaroo carcass on Kangaroo Island +5<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Affected mammals include iconic native species like\nkangaroos, koalas and wombats and lesser known fauna such as the spotted-tail\nquoll. Pictured: A kangaroo carcass on Kangaroo Island<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is not known how many animals have died in bushfires in\nVictoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, WWF-Australia now estimates that more than one\nbillion animals have been killed by bushfires nationally. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professor Dickman said Australia has ‘the world’s highest\nrate of extinction for mammals’. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘It’s events like this that may well hasten the extinction\nprocess for a range of other species. So, it’s a very sad time,’ he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professor Dickman said the bushfires were caused by climate\nchange and warned that the effects could be seen in other parts of the world in\ncoming years. Pictured: Dead cattle on Kangaroo Island +5<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professor Dickman said the bushfires were caused by climate\nchange and warned that the effects could be seen in other parts of the world in\ncoming years. Pictured: Dead cattle on Kangaroo Island<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professor Dickman argued the bushfires were caused by climate\nchange and warned that the effects could be seen in other parts of the world in\ncoming years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘What we’re seeing are the effects of climate change.\nSometimes, it’s said that Australia is the canary in the coal mine with the\neffects of climate change being seen here most severely and earliest,’ he said.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘We’re probably looking at what climate change may look like\nfor other parts of the world in the first stages in Australia at the\nmoment.’ <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
More than 800million animals have been killed by bushfires in New South Wales alone – and that figure is expected to climb. The University of Sydney Science Professor Chris Dickman initially estimated 480million wildlife died in the fires that have ravaged NSW. But he has now revised that figure to almost double after taking into<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":8548,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8547","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-regional-and-international-news"],"yoast_head":"\n