Millions of animals dead in Australia fires

[Bluebear]

:cry:

SYDNEY – Kangaroo corpses lay scattered by the roadsides while wombats that survived the wildfire's onslaught emerged from their underground burrows to find blackened earth and nothing to eat.

Wildlife rescue officials on Wednesday worked frantically to help the animals that made it through Australia's worst-ever wildfires but they said millions of animals likely perished in the inferno.

Scores of kangaroos have been found around roads, where they were overwhelmed by flames and smoke while attempting to flee, said Jon Rowdon, president of the rescue group Wildlife Victoria.

Kangaroos that survived are suffering from burned feet, a result of their territorial behavior. After escaping the initial flames, the creatures — which prefer to stay in one area — likely circled back to their homes, singeing their feet on the smoldering ground.

"It's just horrific," said Neil Morgan, president of the Statewide Wildlife Rescue Emergency Service in Victoria, the state where the raging fires were still burning. "It's disaster all around for humans and animals as well."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090211/ap_on_re_au_an/as_australia_wildfires_animals

[madaboutharry]

1. And they believe over 200 people have died.

What is so tragic is that they believe the fires caused by arson.

[liberalmuse]

3. I hope they catch those responsible.

Hundreds of people dead. Millions of animals dead and suffering. It breaks my heart.

[spooky3]

2. Please, can you donate? Here is a link to Wildlife Victoria.org:

http://www.wildlifevictoria.org.au/cms/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=43

Poor little animals - this is just horribly tragic and so overwhelming for a small (by population) country.

[liberalmuse]

4. Thanks for the link. n/t

[Bluebear]

7. I have, to Australia Koala Foundation, see link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5026506&mesg_id=5026506

We have to remember our animal friends too.

[spooky3]

11. thanks!

[cboy4]

5. Steve Irwin would be weeping.

:cry:

[Jamastiene]

18. Steve Irwin's love for animals could almost be felt

in the video of the firefighter giving that koala some water to drink. That was precious. I cried like a baby. I avoid crying normally, but that pulled it out of me. I haven't seen much of the news in the last week or some, but that just opened my eyes to how bad those fires really are.

I hope they can save as many as possible. :cry:

[cboy4]

20. Me too :)

[SammyWinstonJack]

23. !

:cry:

[Condem]

6. Kick.

For the animals.

[amborin]

8. K&R

[RiverStone]

9. Really sad to hear...

Can't fathom the animal and human suffering.

Happen to know when the rainy season returns down under?

[spooky3]

12. in Winter (in Victoria - some other parts are wetter) - right now it is mid-summer

[Gregorian]

10. Poor things. I hate to see this suffering. But I am willing to brave a question.

It's the same question that wasn't asked after 9/11. What kind of a world have we created that would entice or encouraged or turn someone into wanting to cause this damage? This is a very important question. One that most people will avoid. Because we are all partly responsible. That is what I claim. We have created a world where some are so discouraged and disgusted, that they feel compelled to do this kind of horrific thing.

I do not accept that the people who did this are doing it as a result of being sick. Sick, yes. But something else is going on.

[Condem]

13. Good question, Gregorian.

Arson. I want to here the details before I judge anything. However, if this person started this fire on purpose, it has nothing to do with world disgust. Death isn't good enough for this motherfucker.

[Incitatus]

16. I don't think it's just something about these times

Human history is riddled with atrocities.

[Gregorian]

17. I always try to find a nice tidy solution for everything.

I realized after posting that there could be any number of sad reasons for what happened. Just because the world has too many creeps building subdivisions, driving around in cars oblivious to everything around them, getting further and further removed from the natural way of existing, and only caring about themselves...

It's the same kind of dysfunctional mind that would invade a country like Iraq.

[Bryn]

14. ::::cry:::::

:cry: it's sad

[Bryn]

15. For Steve Irwin

:cry: as well as for animals and people there. It's so sad. I saw it on TV. :cry:

[Ladyhawk]

21. I miss Steve Irwin terribly.

I don't admit that very often because people make fun of me.

:cry:

[cboy4]

22. I won't make fun of you.

I also miss him terribly.

We lost such a valuable champion of wildlife. :cry:

[Jamastiene]

26. I miss him terribly too.

The animals lost a true blue friend when they lost Steve-O. We all lost something great when he left this Earth including the Earth itself. :cry:

[tblue37]

19. Poor creatures. So very, very sad. nt

[AnnieBW]

24. We saw a lot of wildlife, including koalas, in Oz in November

My heart just breaks for the animals, and humans, who are dying in those fires. Thanks for the links!

[Qanisqineq]

25. Every time I hear about the fires, I think of all those animals

My heart just breaks. I cannot even imagine the numbers of animals that have died in the fires. Whenever I see the fires talked about on the nightly news I wish they would at least mention the animals affected by the fires, too. (I only have access to ABC nightly news and to AC 360 so maybe others have mentioned it)