Australia’s main problem right now is the forest fires raging there. They are dangerous for several factors, but in the first place, they pose a threat to the life of many animals, including those that are already threatened with extinction (“Silent Death”). The spreading flame threatens not only directly to creatures on the surface, but also to those who are underground, since the destruction of areas where animals live is rapidly continuing. One of the creatures, whose position symbolizes the severity of the situation, is dunnart. According to experts, the forecast for their continued existence is severe (“Silent Death”). Various other species are in a similar situation, as many places of distribution of these animals were burned due to fires.
By the time this article was being written, an Australian fire had grown to unprecedented proportions. Flames captured nearly 6 million hectares of shrubs, endangering unique flora and fauna (“Silent Death”). This fire threatens several species of animals at once, endangering their extinction. The flame’s power is so high that it destroys all efforts to preserve nature over the past few decades. The presence and spread of greenhouse gases additionally threaten animals. The combination of natural and human factors makes scientists think that this moment can be a turning point in the history of the development of flora and fauna in Australia (“Silent Death”). Scientists fear that many native species will never be restored, and the natural balance of this region will be irrevocably damaged due to a rapidly changing climate. Thus, the consequences of Australian fires can be truly terrifying for the entire continent.
One of the acute problems of spreading disaster is its effect on the environment in which animals live. A considerable number of animals die not directly in the flames of fires, but because of the destruction of the habitat, the disappearance of food sources, and climate change. Although there are many frames with fleeing kangaroos and flying birds, their escape does not guarantee survival. According to experts, at the moment, the fire is spreading so widely that the animals have nowhere to run (“Silent Death”). Besides, there is a part of the inhabitants of forests and shrubs who cannot quickly leave the zone of flame spread due to their physical characteristics. Other species can hide underground, like wombats; however, this does not save them from the destruction of their environment and food sources. Examples of extinct creatures are long-footed potoroo, whose territory was almost entirely restricted to East Gippsland, as well as silver-headed antechinus living in southern Queensland (“Silent Death”). Both species were destroyed by fires that devastated their habitat and made it impossible to stay in it.
In the current environment, the rapid exploration of animal kinds in Australia is necessary. Given all the factors that determine their existence, it is essential to study and identify species at risk to take appropriate measures promptly. According to experts, up to 480 million animals of various species (“Silent Death”) could be affected during the fires. Not all of them were killed by direct flame, but fires affected the entirety of them. Transforming some animals’ living conditions leads to a change in the entire ecosystem as a whole due to the significant number of complex and diverse relationships in nature.
Bushes are no less endangered since fire affects them in the first place. Since there is no way to save plants other than stopping the flame, many plant species die. Among them, there are many rare species that live in small areas (“Silent Death”). The complete disappearance of them may be associated with the burning of the seed bank, which deprives people and nature of the possibility of restoration. Following this, it is necessary to analyze climate changes that lead to the appearance and development of these fires. Given the ecological situation, such flames can become a frequent occurrence, in connection with which it is necessary to carry out preparatory measures and develop strategies to protect the environment.
Work Cited
“‘Silent Death’: Australia’s Bushfires Push Countless Species To Extinction.” The Guardian. 2020, Web.