Bushfires are integralto the Australian environment.

Many Australian plants rely on fire for seed activation, dispersal, germination and flowering; others sprout new growth after fire (epicormic shoots); and many have fire- protective mechanisms such as underground woody organs, dead dense insulation around stems and tall crowns.

The impact of bushfire on wildlife depends on the type and intensity of the fire. Surface fires are low to high intensity where tree canopies may be scorched but do not burn to the extent that it will carry the fire. Crown fire occurs during fires of extreme intensity and may spread rapidly. Low to relatively high intensity fires generally have little impact on wildlife, whereas more intense fires have much greater impact. Individual or small numbers of wildlife may also be impacted by building or backyard fires, such as bonfires, where wildlife may be living or have sought shelter or refuge (Fig. 27.1). With climate change, more intense and devastating bushfires are occurring (Bowman et al. 2020). In many cases, animal adaptations are no longer as protective, resulting in catastrophic con­sequences for wildlife populations and individuals. Many animals succumb and die in such fires. Those that survive

Fig. 27.1. Short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) burnt in a backyard bonfire.

are often burnt and if rescued, require triage, treatment, rehabilitation or euthanasia. The period after fire brings new challenges because water, food resources and shelter are scarce. During the Australian Black Summer fires of 2019-20 an estimated 2.8 billion wildlife perished, with significant impacts on biodiversity and the likely extinc­tion of multiple species (van Eeden and Dickman 2023). The numbers of dead or burnt animals sighted and ani­mals rescued represent only the tip of the iceberg of the wildlife toll. A detailed account of the biodiversity impacts of these fires and the lessons learnt is covered in Rumpff et al. (2023). Thousands of wildlife victims, either directly or indirectly impacted by the fires, were presented to general practice veterinarians, wildlife veterinarians and wildlife hospitals or rescued and taken into care by volunteer wild­life rescue and rehabilitation organisations or individuals. Many mistakes were made during the 2019-20 cata­strophic bushfires, but they did provide an opportunity for reflection, learning and improvement; most notably, the importance of ethical, welfare-based and animal-cen­tric assessment to inform prognostic and euthanasia deci­sion making (Sherwen et al. 2023). Although a great deal more needs to be done, progress has been made, including enhanced wildlife emergency response preparedness; reforms and education within the volunteer wildlife rescue and rehabilitation sector; education and training opportu­nities for veterinarians and veterinary nurses; improved and evidence-based veterinary care protocols; and post fire support of wildlife populations.

The psychological and physical toll on veterinary and animal care workers (VACWs) dealing with bushfire- affected wildlife can be significant. A study after the 2019-20 catastrophic bushfires highlighted this, with VACWs suffering posttraumatic stress disorder, psycho­logical distress, burnout and grief (Paul et al. 2024). The wellbeing of VACWs during and after wildlife disasters is often neglected in disaster preparedness plans and should be addressed, given the increasing frequency of extreme climatic events impacting wildlife (Paul et al. 2024).

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