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The state Labor government says it is trying to save some of Victoria’s most endangered species from the bushfires with a $17.5 million rescue package for wildlife and bio-diversity.
Premier Daniel Andrews says brush-tailed rock wallaby, Victoria’s most endangered mammal, the long-footed potoroo, the large brown tree frog and other at-risk species will benefit from the package.
Targeted feeding is being delivered to wildlife, including the endangered brush-tailed rock wallaby, through food drops from the air and on the ground.
The blazes have had a devastating impact on the flora and fauna in the East Gippsland and alpine region firezones, with "almost all" of the eastern ground parrot's Victorian habitat already destroyed, according to a draft state government report.
The government believes 185 of Victoria’s species, many of them rare and threatened, have already been affected by the fires, including 19 mammal species, 13 frog species, 10 reptile species, 9 bird species, 29 aquatic species and 38 plant species, including the bottlebrush, Snowy River westringia and the Gippsland banksia.
It is feared that more than 40 per cent of the Victorian habitats of the sooty owl, diamond python, long-footed potoroo, long-nosed bandicoot and brush-tailed rock-wallaby have already been wiped out.
An estimated 25 per cent of the sooty owl population has also been killed, while the East Gippsland galaxias, a native Australian fish, has had 100 per cent of its potential habitat burnt, and more than 70 per cent of the Gippsland water dragon's habitat has been incinerated.
Mr Andrews says his new funding package is aimed at giving endangered plant and animal species the best chance of survival through habitat restoration, predator and pest control and immediate salvage operations.
Wildlife triage units and wildlife assessment teams are in operation in and around the fire grounds, Mr Andrews said on Wednesday, and "targeted supplementary feeding" is being delivered to wildlife through food drops from the air and on the ground.
"These fires have had a devastating effect on Victoria, its people and its environment,” the Premier said.
“We’re providing this direct and immediate support to help our wildlife and landscape recover, just as we're supporting bushfire-affected communities recover and rebuild.
“There are already specialist teams on the ground providing food, shelter and care for injured animals, this funding will expand this vital work, helping our most precious plants and animals recover from these devastating fires.”
Last week the Andrews government said grants of up to $1000 had been made available to foster carers to assist with the rehabilitation of animals affected by the fires. This came on top of $200,000 it had already committed towards wildlife rehabilitators in the past financial year.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/...he-brink-after-bushfires-20200122-p53tsy.html
Premier Daniel Andrews says brush-tailed rock wallaby, Victoria’s most endangered mammal, the long-footed potoroo, the large brown tree frog and other at-risk species will benefit from the package.
Targeted feeding is being delivered to wildlife, including the endangered brush-tailed rock wallaby, through food drops from the air and on the ground.
The blazes have had a devastating impact on the flora and fauna in the East Gippsland and alpine region firezones, with "almost all" of the eastern ground parrot's Victorian habitat already destroyed, according to a draft state government report.
The government believes 185 of Victoria’s species, many of them rare and threatened, have already been affected by the fires, including 19 mammal species, 13 frog species, 10 reptile species, 9 bird species, 29 aquatic species and 38 plant species, including the bottlebrush, Snowy River westringia and the Gippsland banksia.
It is feared that more than 40 per cent of the Victorian habitats of the sooty owl, diamond python, long-footed potoroo, long-nosed bandicoot and brush-tailed rock-wallaby have already been wiped out.
An estimated 25 per cent of the sooty owl population has also been killed, while the East Gippsland galaxias, a native Australian fish, has had 100 per cent of its potential habitat burnt, and more than 70 per cent of the Gippsland water dragon's habitat has been incinerated.
Mr Andrews says his new funding package is aimed at giving endangered plant and animal species the best chance of survival through habitat restoration, predator and pest control and immediate salvage operations.
Wildlife triage units and wildlife assessment teams are in operation in and around the fire grounds, Mr Andrews said on Wednesday, and "targeted supplementary feeding" is being delivered to wildlife through food drops from the air and on the ground.
"These fires have had a devastating effect on Victoria, its people and its environment,” the Premier said.
“We’re providing this direct and immediate support to help our wildlife and landscape recover, just as we're supporting bushfire-affected communities recover and rebuild.
“There are already specialist teams on the ground providing food, shelter and care for injured animals, this funding will expand this vital work, helping our most precious plants and animals recover from these devastating fires.”
Last week the Andrews government said grants of up to $1000 had been made available to foster carers to assist with the rehabilitation of animals affected by the fires. This came on top of $200,000 it had already committed towards wildlife rehabilitators in the past financial year.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/...he-brink-after-bushfires-20200122-p53tsy.html
