Why these faces can’t be forgotten

It’s time to talk about the other quiet Australians.

These fires have been a disaster of unfathomable proportions. But I fear that for so many Aussie animals, they may also represent a tipping point. A point at which the existing struggles to survive in our warming world become no longer bearable.

With 800 million animals now lost in NSW alone and over a billion nationwide, it feels like the right time to put faces to these horrific numbers. And truly understand what we are about to lose forever.

Koalas have deservedly (and disastrously) been the most visible victims of this crisis. In fact, only today it was announced they may be shifted from vulnerable to endangered after 30% of their already shrinking natural habitat has now been lost.

But what about all the other species that are too small, too hidden or simply not pretty enough to have a PR presence. Perhaps it’s time to shine a light on them before we lose them forever. So please meet the other kind of Quiet Australian...

📍Brush Tailed Rock Wallaby (above): Already endangered in NSW, they’re one of the main targets of the carrot and sweet potato drops in national parks.

📍Common Wombat: Already battling mange, they now face starvation after fires destroyed their grazing areas. And that’s all despite reports of them sheltering other species of animals in their burrows.

📍Kangaroo Island Dunnart: A tiny marsupial found only on the SA island devastated by fire. Only 300 were alive before the fires.

📍Glossy Black Cockatoo: A subspecies of this bird is only found on Kangaroo Island. An island that will now struggle to support any surviving birds with food.

📍Long footed Potoroo: Already critically endangered and found only in East Gippsland; a region badly burnt out.

📍Silver Headed Antechinus: Called the badly fire affected south east Queensland region home.

Please continue to support charities supporting the recovery of all Australian wildlife. And the vets out there treating them free of charge.

Photo credits: National Parks NSW, Me, Ocean Wide Images, Environment SA, Ben Wrigley, Gary Cranitch.