They didn't start the #bushfire: 10 images that perfectly capture what the bushfires did to Australia
With over half a billion animals affected, thousands of acres of forest gutted and lives lost, people are saying that this Australian bushfire is the worst calamity to hit us in this lifetime. But the bushfires in Australia have been this devastating for over 200 years and it's the telling impact of climate change that things have gotten this bad. Take a look back at some of the most frightening and heart-warming images of the Australian bushfires:
If the bushfires aren't enough to make the climate emergency siren go off, we don't know what will. Let's look at how it all started (Pic: Matthew Abbott for the New York Times)
What is a bushfire? These fires occur in drylands amidst scorching heat and can be caused by Mother Nature or humans. In the picture, smog covers Australia's Sydney Opera House (Pic: AFP via Getty Ima
Strong winds combined with prolonged drought and high temperatures made these bushfires, which started in September 2019, unprecedented. Around 30 firefighters lost their lives (Pic: AFP/Getty)
This viral image shows a baby kangaroo scorched to death in Adelaide Hills. More than half a billion animals were killed (Pic: Instagram: @bradfleet)
The estimate is that as many as 30,000 koalas were dead and about 30 were found injured. Seen in the picture, volunteers nursing a burnt koala (Pic: AFP via Reuters)
27 acres of the country burned and more than 29 people lost their lives. In the picture, smoke is seen emerging from Kangaroo Island in Australia (Pic: NASA Earth Observatory)
Indonesia, England, the USA and other countries sent in help while the bushfires ravaged the continent. In the picture, two koalas cuddling at an emergency triage centre (Pic: Jack Board)
A rare species called the Mount Kaputar slug, known for the distinct pink colour, survived the ambush (Pic: National Parks and Wildlife Service)
A national review has been proposed by the government. Seen in the picture, National Parks and Wildlife Service staff prepare to airdrop supplies (Pic: NSW DPIE Environment, Energy and Science)
As many as 2,000 homes were destroyed and about 600 were damaged and though it has been a great loss for mankind and nature alike, Australia knows that the world is here for help (Pic: Shutterstock)