More than 18 million acres of Australia are currently on fire, wreaking havoc on the habitats of not only humans but animals too. Firefighters continue to tussle with the fires across the country, but nature is winning the battle and authorities believe the dire situation could last for another month as the blaze shows no sign of respite. Now, one expert has warned wildlife in Australia could face a catastrophic loss of life.
Scientists had believed the loss of life to vertebrates, including mammals, birds, reptiles, could reach a billion deaths.
However, a British scientists has taken invertebrates into the equation and believes a trillion (1,000,000,000,000) animals could perish as a result of the worst wildfires in Australia’s human history.
Evolutionary biologist, conservationist and broadcaster Prof Ben Garrod, at the University of East Anglia, said: “The devastating fires ravaging Australia are at a level we have never seen before.
“With currently over 18 million acres ablaze, the reality is that we have little idea about the true damage they will cause or to the full extent of their ecological legacy.
“There is debate about whether half a billion or a billion animals have been affected but the truth is that by the time we include invertebrates as well as mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds, the total will conceivably be in the trillions.
“With approximately 85 percent of vascular plants and 80 percent of mammals found nowhere else on the planet, the importance of Australia’s endemic flora and fauna cannot be overemphasised, meaning it’s loss can not be downplayed.
“With habitat loss, reduced food availability and possible increased predation, the full effects of these fires will not be felt for months or years to come, but will certainly cause the extinction for some of Australia’s most iconic, fragile and beautiful inhabitants.”
Prof Garrod, who presents the show Baby Chimp Rescue on BBC 2, went on to say that the situation will be exacerbated in the future by continuously worsening climate change.
READ MORE: Australia fires: How many animals have died in Australian bushfires?
Since September, at least 25 people have lost their lives and upwards of half a billion animals have perished as a result of the worst wildfires in Australia’s human history.
Officials say the blaze could last for yet another month as the situation refuses to ease. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison more than £53,000 would be released for disaster relief with more than £1bn committed to recovery over the next two years.
The Australian federal government department responsible for managing emergencies even shut its Canberra office due to poor air quality on Monday.