Australia Fires Threaten Future of More Than 300 Animal, Plant Species

(Bloomberg) -- More than 300 threatened species of plants, mammals, reptiles, insects and fish were affected by the Australian wildfires, with fire destroying at least 80% of known habitat for 49 species in blazes that decimated an area almost the size of England.

Australian Department of Environment and Energy figures published Monday show that 272 plant species and 16 mammals, including the Kangaroo Island echidna and mountain pygmy-possum, have been affected by the unseasonably long fire season.

The plight of Australia’s unique wildlife has recently captured the world’s attention after distressing images of charred koalas and kangaroos circulated online. Experts have estimated that as many as 1 billion animals may have been killed in the devastating fires that have taken at least 28 lives and destroyed over 3,000 homes.

Still, while the fires have raged for more than five months, they aren't the only natural element against which Australians must brace themselves: Torrential rains and flash floods are now sweeping through the states of Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales, while some regional towns were smothered by dust storms on Sunday.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Canberra, and flood warnings for fire-affected regions in Victoria.

While the cooler weather and weekend rains nevertheless brought relief to firefighters battling flames across Victoria and New South Wales, 14 fires are still burning in Victoria, and 69 in New South Wales, according to the states’ respective emergency services.

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