Wildlife caught between bushfires and floods in Australia

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Australia is currently facing two sides of a worsening climate crisis. While the north is being inundated by record breaking floods, and an ex-tropical cyclone, the south is being ravaged by devastating bushfires. The consequences are far reaching—not only for people, but also for the many animals that depend on fragile habitats.  

Conditions are still changing, and wildlife responders across Australia continue to need help as this situation unfolds.

Carers across Australia are telling us that this summer has been "chaotic" with barely any respite from multiple back-to-back extreme weather events and an inundation of wildlife needing care.

Extreme heat takes a heavy toll 

Parts of Australia endured the longest spell of extreme heat and catastrophic fire danger since the 2019–20 Black Summer fires. Temperatures above 40°C have moved across South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia, increasing fire risk and taking a heavy toll on wildlife. 

Extreme heat is proving deadly for wildlife—particularly for species already under pressure.

Flying foxes have been among the hardest hit. Already weakened by a seasonal shortage of food, prolonged heat has caused animals to collapse from trees from dehydration and heat stress. IFAW is supporting Fly By Night Bat Clinic, which is currently caring for more than 330 threatened flying foxes across its statewide network. Many of these animals—especially pups—will require weeks or months of rehabilitation before they can be safely released.

In South Australia, IFAW is supporting our long-term partner, Southern Koala and Echidna Rescue, with fuel for rescues and vital veterinary equipment to treat heat stress, including oxygen support and fluids. We are also assisting Wildlife Welfare Organisation as they care for waterbirds affected by heat-related disease outbreaks, including botulism linked to warming waterways.

In Victoria, alongside flying fox care, IFAW is supporting Dutch Thunder Wildlife Shelter with fuel and food for animals affected by extreme heat and nearby bushfires.

In New South Wales, IFAW is providing critical support to long-term partner Hunter Wildlife Rescue, which is caring for bushfire-impacted animals and more than 50 flying foxes suffering from the extreme heat. IFAW also provided critical supplies to Sydney Wildlife Rescue to support their lifesaving response to the flying foxes heat stress event.  

Catastrophic heat and bushfires also ravaged parts of Western Australia, where IFAW supported partners Darling Range Wildlife Shelter with their search and rescue efforts, and enabled FAWNA Inc to rescue a number of critically endangered western ringtail possums.

With heat and fire danger still affecting parts of southern Australia, more animals are being pushed into danger, and the need for help is far from over.

Flooding in the north 

While southern regions face extreme heat and fire danger, northern Australia is dealing with a very different emergency. Recent flooding and the impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji have displaced wildlife across parts of Queensland, with exhausted kangaroos, birds, and other native animals arriving in care.

IFAW is supporting The Agile Project with equipment to scale up care for kangaroos and birds affected by storms and flooding. We are also assisting independent carers caring for dozens of flood-affected animals in remote areas.

In one location, cyclone winds brought down trees, damaging a koala rehabilitation enclosure. IFAW has provided funding to Wildlife Rehabilitation Queensland to help rebuild the enclosure so care can continue safely.

Flood impacts are still being felt across affected regions, and as conditions evolve, carers will need ongoing help to rescue and care for animals caught in the aftermath.

Working together for animals 

As conditions worsen, IFAW and our partners are responding in real time to support wildlife responders on the ground. From fire-impacted koalas and flying foxes, to flood-affected macropods and birds, this is what our disaster response looks like—state by state, hour by hour.  

The situation is critical and there is great concern about what is yet to come. Together with partners across Australia, every effort is being made to rescue and care for animals, giving them a chance to recover.