7:34
- ABC News
- January 7, 2020
US map shows scale of massive Australia wildfires
The size of the wildfires would cover a large portion of the United States.
7:34
An estimated 480 million animals have been killed since the start of the bush fire season in September, according to estimates from ecologists at the University of Sydney.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/australia-fires-gty-aa-200104_hpEmbed_3x2_384.jpg\")
That figure only includes mammals and does not include insects, bats or frogs, according to a statement on the university's website. \"The true loss of animal life is likely to be much higher than 480 million,\" the statement said.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/International/wildfire-graphic-ap-jef-200106_hpEmbed_17x12_384.jpg\")
\"Until the fires subside, the full extent of the damage will remain unknown, Dr. Stuart Blanch, senior manager of Land Clearing and Restoration for WWF-Australia told ABC News in a statement.
HELPING HAND: A thirsty kangaroo in Bendalong is seen drinking water out of a police officer's hand as deadly wildfires ravage Australia. https://t.co/16mFGemirc pic.twitter.com/os9AFxMGTP
— ABC News (@ABC) January 6, 2020
\"This includes the death of thousands of koalas, along with other iconic species such as kangaroos, wallabies, gliders, kookaburras, cockatoos and honeyeaters,\" Blanch said. \"Many forests will take decades to recover and the fires are worsening Australia’s extinction crisis.\"
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/International/koala-injured-australia-ap-ps-200106_hpEmbed_3x4_384.jpg\")
Up to 30% of koalas are estimated to have died in fires on the mid-north coast of New South Wales.
The government has committed an additional 2 billion Australian dollars towards the recovery effort, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Monday. The money is in addition to the \"government's emergency and disaster payments, and the financial support for volunteer firefighters.\"
We're putting an initial $2 billion into a new bushfire recovery fund to ensure the families, farmers and business owners hit by these unprecedented #bushfires get the support they need as they recover.
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) January 6, 2020
\"The fires are still burning. And they'll be burning for months to come,\" Morrison said. \"And so that's why I outlined today that this is an initial, an additional, investment of $2 billion. If more is needed and the cost is higher, then more will be provided.\"
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/International/australia-orange-sky-road-gty-ps-200106_hpEmbed_3x2_384.jpg\")
For the first time in Australia's history, 3,000 Army, Navy and Air Force reservists have been called up and will be thrown into the battle against the fires, Morrison said.
Our people are highly trained & professional, but not always able to complete the mission on first try.
— Air Commander (@RAAF_ACAUST) January 6, 2020
This video shows how heavy smoke from bushfires has prevented some C27J & C130J flights from reaching #Mallacoota & #Merimbula #AusAirForce #AustralianFires #YourADF pic.twitter.com/PhNjNIUVHf
Firefighters have been brought in from the United States to assist Australian authorities.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/International/australia-navy-carrier-gty-ps-200106_hpEmbed_3x2_384.jpg\")
ABC News' Samara Lynn, Christine Theodorou and Maggie Rulli contributed to this report.
Editor's note: The previous graphic in this story has been updated to reflect the hot spots around Australia.
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