Surprisingly few animals die in wildfires – and that means we can help more in the aftermath
- Written by Chris J Jolly, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Charles Sturt University
Getty ImagesThe estimate that one billion animals were killed by Australia’s 2019-20 Black Summer fires drew international attention to the fate of wildlife during fire.
This estimate assumed all animals in the fire’s path were killed by the flames, or in the immediate aftermath due to injury, predation, dehydration or starvation.
Howev...

















