Koalas inhabit the east coast of Australia, where forest fires are raging. This iconic marsupial is slow to move, and the only thing left to do in the face of a fire is to climb higher up the eucalyptus tree, where the home is located. Eucalyptus trees are full of aromatic oil and will explode in forest fires, and the scene is very tragic. The fires did not lead to the extinction of koalas because of their wide range of activities, but they suffered a severe blow. Photo by JOEL SARTORE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO ARK
Pictured is a red kangaroo, one of four kangaroo subspecies affected by the fire. These marsupials move fast and can sometimes avoid flames, but things like barbed wire limit their movements. Many of the red kangaroos fleeing danger are homeless, without food and water, and injured. Veterinarians there had to euthanize burned red kangaroos. The eastern Victorian town of Marakoutha was badly affected, with dozens of displaced kangaroos congregating on the golf course, not knowing where to go. Photo by JOEL SARTORE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO ARK
Wombats live in expansive underground caves with multiple entrances. Such homes can shield them and other animals from smoke, flames and heat. The study found that in extreme cases such as fires and droughts, or to avoid predators, other species also seek refuge in wombats' burrows. Soon, wombats that survive forest fires will also face difficulties, such as how to avoid predators and how to find food on scorched earth. Photo by JOEL SARTORE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO ARK
The unusually hot, dry environment not only spawned fires, but also brought disaster to the gray-headed foxes. These little things hanging upside down from trees can't survive extreme heat, and a large number of gray-headed foxes have died this year. In a park in melbourne's region, 4,500 gray-headed foxes died in just three days due to temperatures exceeding 43.3. Photo by JOEL SARTORE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO ARK
Broom-tailed possums are widespread in Australia, including fire areas; in the past, they used to find shelter in tree holes and survive extreme forest fires. However, they may soon be unable to rely on these tree holes. Broom-tailed possums usually live on old trees, and after a fire, old trees are more likely to fall. Photo by JOEL SARTORE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO ARK
Red-necked kangaroos in fire areas will face food shortages. To help NSW's endangered broom-tailed rock kangaroos, officials dropped thousands of kilograms of sweet potatoes and carrots from the air during Operation Rock Kangaroo. Photo by JOEL SARTORE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO ARK
The yellow-bellied Marsupial is one of six gliding marsupial species native to Australia and is listed as a near-threatened species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. They live in eucalyptus forests in fire-fired areas and make their home in tall holes in ancient trees. Their situation is no longer optimistic, and habitat loss could lead to further deterioration. Over the past three generations, the number of yellow-bellied marsips has decreased by 30%. Photo by JOEL SARTORE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO ARK
The proboscis kangaroo is about the size of a hare and its population is already dwindling, and this forest fire will bring them a disaster. Last October, a fire swept through an important habitat in New South Wales, and a species of proboscis kangaroo (pictured above) may become extinct. Another species of long-legged long-nosed kangaroo has a sporadic habitat in wetlands that have not escaped forest fires. Photo by JOEL SARTORE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO ARK
People in New South Wales and Victoria shared photos of dead cockatoos and parakeets on social media, which eventually fell to the ground after losing the heat wave. In extreme heat and dry environments, birds, including sunflower cockatoos, feel hungry and thirsty. Six of the 8 known species of parrots on Kangaroo Island have suffered this forest fire and are at risk of extinction. Photo by JOEL SARTORE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO ARK
Forest fires have also had serious consequences for Australia's rivers, where platypus live and which roam the country's entire east coast. As the fire destroys the trees around the stream, the shade is gone and the water temperature will rise to an intolerable level, i.e. above 28.3 degrees. Experts say the platypus could become locally extinct in areas where fires are severe. Photo by JOEL SARTORE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO ARK
In the wild, only 2,000 to 3,000 critically endangered mountain possums remain, all of which live on several hills in northern Victoria and southern New South Wales. It is the only mammal in Australia that lives entirely in the high mountains, and much of their habitat has been destroyed by forest fires. In addition to food shortages, survivors face predation by wild cats and foxes, the latter of which hunt on burned-out land. Photo by JOEL SARTORE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO ARK
Threatened needle moles bury their feet deep in the dirt, and the thorns on their bodies protect their skin from flames. However, this instinct does not apply to large-scale forest fires. The needle mole on Kangaroo Island (pictured) may have been badly injured: in December 2019, a fire swept through half of the island, killing wild animals in large numbers. Photo by JOEL SARTORE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO ARK
The King Honeyeater is a critically endangered bird that lives on the forests and savannahs of the east coast of New South Wales, where forest fires and droughts are severe. As of 2010, experts estimated that there were only 350 to 400 king honey-sucking birds in the wild. The bird feeds on specific species of eucalyptus and nests near the tree, and experts fear that the fire will destroy a large number of eucalyptus trees. The loss of important habitats affects the breeding, nesting and foraging of honey-sucking birds, bringing the species to the point of extinction. Photo by JOEL SARTORE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO ARK