Australians Help Koalas, Other Animals Survive Fires
2020-01-15
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1The Australian government said this week it will spend over 34 million dollars on helping wildlife recover from bushfires.
2The bushfires crisis threatens several animal species, including koalas and rock wallabies.
3Josh Frydenberg is the Treasurer of Australia.
4He told reporters on Monday, "This has been an ecological disaster, a disaster that is still unfolding."
5He spoke during a visit to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, where workers are treating 45 koalas for burns.
6Frydenberg added that Australia's native trees and plants had been "very badly damaged."
7Huge wildfires have destroyed more than 11.2 million hectares - nearly half the area of Britain.
8The fires destroyed or severely damaged the areas where several native animals live.
9Some estimates suggest as many as one billion creatures have died in the fires or are at risk now because of a lack of food and shelter.
10This number includes farm animals and family pets like cats and dogs.
11People around the world are sharing images of animals that survived the fires and videos of people risking their lives to help Australian wildlife.
12In one program, national park employees used helicopters to air drop thousands of kilos of carrots and sweet potatoes to brush-tailed rock wallabies in New South Wales (NSW).
13The state's environment minister Matt Kean said giving them this food is one way Australians are trying to help endangered animals like the wallaby.
14"The wallabies typically survive the fire itself," he said, but they have no natural food left after the fire passes.
15The koala is a national symbol, so Frydenberg said it would be a focus of national government spending.
16He added that the full amount of the damage would not be known until the bushfires are out.
17Experts say the fires could continue burning for months.
18Threatened Species Commissioner Sally Box said an estimated 30 percent of koala habitat in New South Wales state may have been lost.
19Koalas have heavy fur, and usually climb higher when they are in danger.
20That is not helpful in fast-moving bushfires.
21"Everything that can be done to rescue and recover koala habitat will be done," noted Sussan Ley, Australia's Federal Environment Minister.
22I'm Jill Robbins.
1The Australian government said this week it will spend over 34 million dollars on helping wildlife recover from bushfires. 2The bushfires crisis threatens several animal species, including koalas and rock wallabies. 3Josh Frydenberg is the Treasurer of Australia. He told reporters on Monday, "This has been an ecological disaster, a disaster that is still unfolding." He spoke during a visit to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, where workers are treating 45 koalas for burns. 4Frydenberg added that Australia's native trees and plants had been "very badly damaged." 5Huge wildfires have destroyed more than 11.2 million hectares - nearly half the area of Britain. The fires destroyed or severely damaged the areas where several native animals live. 6Some estimates suggest as many as one billion creatures have died in the fires or are at risk now because of a lack of food and shelter. This number includes farm animals and family pets like cats and dogs. 7People around the world are sharing images of animals that survived the fires and videos of people risking their lives to help Australian wildlife. 8Food from the sky 9In one program, national park employees used helicopters to air drop thousands of kilos of carrots and sweet potatoes to brush-tailed rock wallabies in New South Wales (NSW). 10The state's environment minister Matt Kean said giving them this food is one way Australians are trying to help endangered animals like the wallaby. 11"The wallabies typically survive the fire itself," he said, but they have no natural food left after the fire passes. 12Australia's national symbol 13The koala is a national symbol, so Frydenberg said it would be a focus of national government spending. He added that the full amount of the damage would not be known until the bushfires are out. Experts say the fires could continue burning for months. 14Threatened Species Commissioner Sally Box said an estimated 30 percent of koala habitat in New South Wales state may have been lost. Koalas have heavy fur, and usually climb higher when they are in danger. That is not helpful in fast-moving bushfires. 15"Everything that can be done to rescue and recover koala habitat will be done," noted Sussan Ley, Australia's Federal Environment Minister. 16I'm Jill Robbins. 17Sonali Paul reported on this story for the Associated Press. Jill Robbins adapted the report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 18________________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20unfold - v. to happen as time passes 21park - n. an enclosed piece of ground; a protected space or area 22symbol - n. something that stands for or represents something 23focus - n. a center of activity or attention 24habitat - n. the place or type of place where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives or grows 25fur - n. hair 26What do you think of the Australian bush fires? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.