A thick, gray cloud of smoke hung over Sydney, Australia, earlier this month, a reminder of the wildfires that had been raging outside the city since Christmas. In nearby forests, blackened trees and bushes smoldered. Weary firefighters struggled to put out every last ember. The forests were quiet—too quiet.
Tens of thousands of animals had been injured or killed in fires that burned for 16 days. Many escaped but were hurt and disoriented. Kangaroos, possums and wallabies wandered dangerously close to roads in search of safety. They found it in the arms of their human neighbors.
Corinne Bushby is a volunteer rescuer. Earlier this month, Bushby took in a greater glider possum whose paws and ears had been burned. "She still can't grip with her claws, so I'm chopping up leaves for her to eat," says Bushby. "She's a very finicky eater." Bushby hopes to return her furry friend to the wild.
In the Line of Fire
The fires destroyed more than 1.2 million acres of farmland and forest and 170 homes. At their peak, the blazes spread through 1,250 miles, threatening Australia's biggest city, Sydney, until rains came along. Up to 20,000 firefighters were called into battle.
Some of the fires were natural wildfires, which occur each year in Australia. The country's hot, dry, breezy summers help the fires start and spread quickly. Dry thunderstorms form, producing little or no rain but plenty of lightning. When lightning hits dry brush or forest, it starts a fire.
But not all the fires were accidental. Officials believe that 40 of the 100 blazes were set on purpose. This is Australia's worst case of arson ever.
Even more upsetting: Two-thirds of the suspects are younger than 16, some as young as 9. As the smoke begins to clear, police and law enforcement officials are trying to decide how to punish the culprits, who have been arrested and may stand trial.
Politicians are determined to teach a lesson to the kids responsible. Let's "rub their noses in the ashes," said Bob Carr, who governs Australia's most populous state, New South Wales, where the fires burned. Carr wants to make the culprits help "clean up the mess."
The Road to Recovery
The fires have scarred more than 50 of Australia's national parks, including Royal National Park, the second-oldest national park in the world (after Yellowstone in the U.S.). But park officials are optimistic that the forests in which koalas, kangaroos and possums live will recover. Wildfires are part of a natural cycle that clears old trees and brush for new growth. Already, green shoots have begun to grow up from the ashes.
Saving the Animals
Koalas were among the animals most threatened by the fires. Koalas are slow-moving, and the eucalyptus trees they live in are very flammable. Wildlife officials feared early on that entire colonies of koalas would be wiped out by the fires. "I saw the flames explode and thought 'Well, that's it for my koalas,'" says biologist Robert Close, who studies Sydney's largest koala colony. "But one of our females managed to save herself and her cub." Now Close is more optimistic about the koalas' fate.
The worst may be over, but many of the injured animals still need special help in order to bounce back. Volunteers have saved at least 200 critters, bandaging and treating their burns—and even hand-feeding them. Wayne Reynolds, who is caring for a ringtail possum, says he is "feeding it apple, native leaves and special possum milk formula."
With a little help from their human friends, some of the area's threatened wildlife is on the mend. Corinne Bushby's possum is a good example. When she first took the possum in, it was docile and calm, probably because it was in shock. Now the possum is behaving like a wild animal once again. "She started growling at me the other day," says Bushby. "That's a very good sign."
Amazing Aussie Animals
Australia is home to animals found nowhere else. Biologists say this is partly because it was isolated from the rest of the world by vast oceans for 50 million years. Some unusual facts about Aussie critters.
Kangaroo: On average, there are at least two kangaroos for every person living in Australia. It's no wonder a group of kangaroos is called a mob!
Kookaburra: This kooky bird's song sounds like laughter, but it's actually a serious warning for other birds to stay out of its territory.
Echidna: The echidna is a monotreme, or egg-laying mammal. It has a sticky tongue that extends up to seven inches—perfect for snagging ants!
Platypus: With its ducklike bill and webbed feet and its furry body, the platypus is an odd-looking mammal. It is the only monotreme in the world besides the echidna.
Koala: The koala carries its baby in a pouch on its back. It eats mainly eucalyptus leaves, which are poisonous to most mammals.