While plenty of news about the devastation of the Asutralia bush-fires must surely have reached your ears by now, especially about the death of animals all over due to both the flames and their habitats being completely destroyed, we have some good news to cheer you up with, courtesy of UNILAD!
Source: Daily Mail
As reported by them, just recently the New South Wales government has started an incredibly brilliant initiative called ‘Operation Rock Wallaby’, which they hope will help feed the remaining population of local brush-tailed wallabies with food so that they can survive through this incredibly difficult time.
Source: Daily Mail
So how exactly are they going to transport that much food to the remaining brush-tailed wallaby population quickly and effectively, while reaching a wide enough area?
By conducting food drops around the affected regions of the local environment via airplanes and helicopters, of course!
Source: Daily Mail
Source: Daily Mail
This works exactly as you think it does: over 2,200kg of fresh vegetables are air -lifted, then scattered down over the affected regions in a rain of literal food for the wallabies to eat. Thus far, the food drops have been conducted in the Capertree and Wolgan valleys, Yengo National Park, the Kangaroo Valley, and around Jenolan, Oxley Wild Rivers and Curracubundi national parks.
Source: Daily Mail
Source: Daily Mail
While the surviving wallabies have managed to escape the worst of the fires, the biggest concern for them now is food, according to Matt Kean, environment minister for New South Wales.
“The wallabies typically survive the fire itself, but are then left stranded with limited natural food as the fire takes out the vegetation around their rocky habitat.
The wallabies were already under stress from the ongoing drought, making survival challenging for the wallabies without assistance.’ he said.
Cameras will also be used to monitor the uptake of food as well as the variety of animals that are still surviving in these regions. It bears to note that wallabies are already considered an ‘at-risk’ species even before the bush-fires started.
Source: Daily Mail
Source: Daily Mail
In the same vein, Animals Australia has also been working very hard to transport food supplies, such as grains and pellets, to animals in need around the Victoria region. Charity proceeds that they have received have been used to lease out aircraft for use in these initiatives.
“With roads likely shut for weeks, the risk of starvation for surviving wildlife in the area is very real.
It would be tragic if there was a further loss of life because the needs of surviving animals was not being met.” said Animals Australia spokeswoman Lyn White.
These ongoing efforts to save and preserve the natural wildlife of Australia definitely deserve our highest praise, and we hope that they will be able to continue on their initiative to ensure that Australian wildlife manages to pull through this difficult time!
Also read: Exhausted Aussie Fireman Naps On Lawn After Fighting Fires 12 Hours a Day For 10 Days Straight
