A Call from the Wild: Support the Animals in the Aftermath of the Fires

It is estimated that over seven million hectares have gone up in flames since the start of the 2019 fire season. As Australia’s landscapes burn, the country’s unique wildlife and natural vegetation also suffer. Early estimates indicate the number of vertebrate animals affected since the fires started in September 2019 could be as high as 1 billion, with most of these likely to have been killed immediately by the severe fires, or dying soon after as burnt landscapes leave them with little or no food and shelter. IUCN Statement

With IUCN’s statement lauding the heroic efforts of the thousands of volunteer fire fighters in the face of this disaster, IUCN has acknowledged the need to continue assisting and caring for people, domestic animals and wildlife threatened by or injured in the fires.

IUCN Save Our Species is setting up a fund to support the wildlife and ecosystem restoration efforts in the aftermath of the fires. With estimates that more than 1 billion animals have perished in the fires, our aim is to raise funds in order to support Australian civil society organisations to implement activities, in support of the 5 R’s:

1. Restoration of ecosystems damaged by the fires;
2. Rehabilitation of injured, displaced, sick or orphaned animals;
3. Re-introduction of species to areas where they have been exterminated by the fires;
4. Removal of invasive species to prevent their establishment in disturbed habitats where they could displace native species;
5. Red List re-assessment of species severely affected by the fires, to determine whether their extinction risk has increased.

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For more information about IUCN Save Our Species’ Australian Wildlife campaign, please visit our website:  saveourspecies.org/australia

With thanks,

IUCN Species Conservation Action team

About us

IUCN Save Our Species contributes to the long-term survival of threatened species, their habitats and the people who depend on them by supporting civil society organisations. It aims at building the capacity of many of these organisations and communicating about the successes to inspire more people to support this universal cause. It is IUCN’s response to the challenges identified by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ mobilising IUCN’s unique knowledge and expertise of the members of the Species Survival Commission and its many Specialist Groups.

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