Most of the population of Australia lives in the Southeastern region; an area in which most of the devastation from recent forest fires has taken place. There have been some human casualties, but significantly more animals that have lost their lives. Australia has been home to some of the most beautiful and rarest animals on earth, and so many of these are now on the brink of being endangered, if not already deemed so. This tragedy has inspired individuals from all around the world to offer their services, the following being a number of ways you can contribute yourself.

 

Relief for Burned Animals

 

For the lucky animals that have survived these fires, many are still suffering from severe burns to their coats and paws. Among them are koalas and kangaroos, two of the most world-renowned Australian animals. Some people are giving pain-relieving shots to any injured animals they find. Others are stocking up on blankets to cover animals as they take them out of danger’s way to secure shelters. However, hundreds of millions of animals may have already perished from the devastating fires.

 

Visit WIRES Australian Wildlife Rescue Organisation’s website here to donate!

 

Leaving Food and Water

 

Many of the surviving animals are threatened with starvation or dehydration. Entire habitations for unique wildlife have been destroyed, leaving these animals lost and confused. All the rivers and dams are drying up, but many local southeastern Australians are creating watering holes in surrounding areas for surviving animals they cannot locate themselves.

 

Koalas get most of their water from the eucalypt leaves they eat. The recent droughts have made life hard enough for them, and now they are coming down from the trees looking for water. This provides rescuers a good chance to save them before they come to more harm, however. To help in these efforts, visit the Australian Koala Foundation to adopt a koala today and protect this species from further devastation.

 

Providing Temporary Shelter

 

All around the country, people have come together to find, feed, and house rescued animals. Some have gone as far as digging out their bedrooms to shelter kangaroos. Communities are coming together to build shelters, but it’s not happening fast enough. The wildfires have brought animals that were once considered endangered to near extinction. It will take some time for the smoke to settle before the true level of destruction caused by these wildfires is realized. The two states of New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria have suffered the worst from the fires.

To do your part in providing these animals shelter, consider donating to the Scituate Animal Shelter, asking for homemade “Joey Pouches.” Another helpful nonprofit organization rescuing these animals in need is the Australian Animal Rescue.

This blog was originally published on Jung’s website.