The Australian bushfires of 2019-20 continue to ravage communities and impact our native ecosystem.
As donations and well wishes flood in from all over the world, this has been a crisis that has brought out the best and worst in humanity.
For those people who have been impacted directly or indirectly from the fires, it is important to take stock of what has occurred before exploring ways in which everyone can do their part.
Unprecedented Fires Create Disaster On Multiple Fronts
It is an injustice to the pain and suffering of recent months to view the Australian bushfires purely through the prism of statistics, but they are a stark illustration of the damage caused by a climate catastrophe across 2019 and 2020.
With the popular holiday destinations of Mallacoota in Victoria and Nowra of New South Wales being emblematic of an apocalyptic summer, the fires have accounted for numerous deaths including volunteer firefighters and local residents, the burning of over 7 million hectares of land, the destruction of over 1700 homes and a disaster relief effort that continues to defy all expectations.
The air quality index has already surpassed levels considered too dangerous to be exposed to across major cities in Sydney and Canberra, and Melbourne is covered in red dust, demonstrating that the aftermath for the country will be just as significant an endeavour as battling the fires themselves.
Unimaginable Wildlife Loss
Of all the loss that has been accounted for during the crisis of the Australian bushfires, it is the reported 1.25 billion animals killed that remains the most painful to consider, and the death toll is still counting.
An estimated 25,000 koalas alone have been wiped out on the iconic Kangaroo Island, accounting for approximately 50% of the species. What was once a holiday paradise is now a desolate wasteland of death and despair.
Mammals, reptiles and birds have been decimated across New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia in particular, placing the emphasis on donation efforts and those who are able to volunteer with animals.
Fighting The Cause for Australian Wildlife
Australian wildlife needs our help more than ever before in 2020. Animal shelters and domestic volunteer centres are the new epicentre for the conservation movement, offering a place of refugee for helpless species that have been wiped out by the spread of the Australian bushfires.
All native species have been impacted to varying degrees. From the kangaroos and koalas to possums, wombats, wallabies and the hundreds of other bird and reptile species, the damage will be long-lasting but the need to assist on the ground starts today.
The love and generosity of the Australian people has come to the fore during this catastrophe as others from around the world have sought to pitch in and play their part in the restoration of the land and its precious animals.
The Role of Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers
One organisation that has remained at the forefront of the conservation effort long before the crisis of the Australian bushfires occurred. By providing a series of animal rescue shelter programs across Australia with international volunteering programs aimed at supporting carers with the rescue, rehabilitation and release of wildlife, Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers have joined the first response relief effort by facilitating the introduction and travel arrangements of vets and animal handlers to relief efforts on the ground in some of the most devastated regions. Yes, it is a little left field to what we are used to, but with so many enquiries from people wanting to help, we felt this was an opportunity for us to link suitably qualified people with those who need support the most.
As part of our mission statement to promote ethical travel as an alternative for people wanting to get close to wildlife, this is an excellent opportunity for people to realise their dream of wanting to help our country by providing them with a safe place to land so they may help our wildlife anyway they can. They will be met by a welcoming crew of people who are exhausted and running out of energy and funds.
Volunteers who sign up to our ‘Wildlife Emergency Response & Wombat’ project are placed in the town of Corryong, Victoria where they will work with local carers to conduct food drops and replenish water stations in a nearby burnt-out area. They will also care for a few rescued wombats. Volunteers volunteering with the bushfire response contribute to the cause in the most rewarding way possible.
How to Get Involved
Visit www.oceans2earth.org and sign up to the ‘Wildlife Emergency Response & Wombat’’ project. Having dedicated teams of volunteers on the ground to assist with injured and endangered wildlife is part of the plight to protect these precious species.
We are also collecting donations on behalf of the carers. Please donate here www.paypal.me/oceans2earth, and 100% of donations will go straight to carers for food drops and food station erection, monitoring and water/food replenishing.
Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers also run international volunteering programs for conservation and animal care in Australia including specialist citizen science marine conservation programs. These placements are open to people who want to experience our wonderful wildlife without supporting zoos and wildlife parks. The up close and personal relationships our volunteers strike with the animals is remarkable. The animals all have a unique personality and if a volunteer is there long enough, can recognise them all by name.
Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers run several animal volunteering programs in Australia where volunteers work directly with Australian animals. These include Australian Forest Wildlife, Tasmanian Wildlife & Penguin Care, Endangered Species Conservation, Great Barrier Reef Turtle Rehabilitation, Aussie Bush Conversation Safari, Sea Turtles, Reef and Wetlands Expedition and Rainforest Bat Rehabilitation.
Get involved by simply following the prompts on our application page, reserve a placement opportunity and wait for your confirmation! Then pack your bags for an experience of a lifetime. The O2E team is ready to help you find the right program and location. There is so many to choose from…many volunteers join two or three programs!
For any questions about the wildlife relief effort please reach out to us at www.oceans2earth.org or email volunteer@oceans2earth.org to find out more information about placement opportunities.
Written by Blake Hampton, writer for Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers
