Bushfires affecting koalas in Australia
Images adapted from: Businessinsider, @blackjaguarwhitetiger
Australia is facing one of the most disastrous bushfires in history, which has been ongoing since September 2019. So far, the fires have claimed 18 human lives, destroyed more than 1,000 houses, and killed almost half a billion animals, including the country’s national animals like kangaroos and koalas.
Local ecologists estimated that more than 8,000 koalas have been killed since the fires started – that’s about 30% of all koalas in Australia. Many more have sustained injuries. The saddest part is that this number is far from final, as the fires are yet to be controlled.
Image credit: @blackjaguarwhitetiger
Images of animals affected by the fires have been circulated around the internet, from a hoard of kangaroos running away from blazing forests to a thirsty koala drinking cyclists’ water.
Here are more organisations you can donate to internationally:
https://thesmartlocal.com/thailand/australia-bushfire-donations/
Show your support online
Image credit: CNBC
Thanks to the internet, we can now take part in helping the koalas by adopting them, even if you’re not located in Australia. Good news for Thai folks, or if you come from anywhere else in the world!
Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, a koala hospital in New South Wales, allows you to adopt the wild koalas in their care. The hospital has helped injured and sick wild koalas in the region over the years. They’re also playing a big part in taking care of the poor critters that have been affected by the recent bushfires.
You’ll receive an e-certificate after your $40 adoption
Image credit: Gosia Miyu
You can start by visiting their website, then select the koala you’d like to adopt. There are 3 different packages you can choose from to support your adopted furry friend.
- AUD40 (~฿837.60) per year and you’ll get an e-certificate from the hospital with the adopted koala’s picture and name, as well as the adopter’s name.
- AUD60 (~฿1,256), for Australian residents, or AUD70 (~฿1,465.70), for those who live outside the country. With this option, you’ll get a physical certificate, a hospital booklet about koalas, your adopted koala’s background, a koala bookmark, and a copy of the hospital’s magazine delivered to your doorstep*.
*Postage fee included
Note: Their website is currently facing lots of traffic, so we suggest checking in regularly in order to access it
Image credit: Thegiraffeandthegrizzly
All the money will go to the koalas’ medical treatment and funding of educational materials to bring awareness of these creatures in need.
Donate as you can on GoFundMe
If you can’t afford to adopt these furry buddies, don’t be sad. You can directly donate whatever you can to the hospital’s GoFundMe page that has been specifically created to help take care of the koalas that have been affected by the bushfires.
Image credit: Gofundme
As of today, the total donation has reached AUD3,763,180 – impressively exceeding their original milestone of AUD25,000.
We believe that the kindness from around the globe will heal and lift the dark curtain of smoke that is currently hanging over this beautiful nation.
Our hearts are with Australia, its people, and animals – stay safe, everyone.
https://thesmartlocal.com/thailand/thai-volunteers-australia/
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