Bushfires and Disasters

With the impacts of climate change, the world is facing a new era of more frequent, more severe and more volatile natural disasters. In Australia, we will see more droughts, floods, bushfires and cyclones as our climate becomes more unstable.

Though these situations have enormous impacts for people, we cannot forget the animals that also lose their lives, homes and families in these disasters. Native wildlife like wombats, kangaroos, gliders, reptiles and birds are often orphaned or injured in these disasters

We urgently need to become more prepared for these disasters, to save as many pets, farm animals and wild animals as we can.

Humane Society International Australia’s disaster response work spans a wide range of programs dedicated to helping Australia and the world prepare for and respond to natural disasters.

Boots on the ground

We have a highly trained team ready to respond to disasters anywhere in Australia and are a registered taskforce in NSW. Our team specializes in wildlife rescue in emergency situations so that we can save animals alongside emergency responders.

Along with building our skills to provide on-ground assistance, we have invested in new technologies to help find and care for animals in emergencies, including a heat-sensing drone and portable treatment tents for triage.

International response

Our disaster response work has also expanded to international situations, where we are part of Humane Society International’s global response effort. These global teams travel to disaster-struck countries to help with caring for animals, reuniting pets with their families and coordinating rescue efforts.

Working with governments

We are advocating state and federal governments for stronger support for wildlife in disasters, starting with our Safeguarding Australia’s Wildlife report. Alongside this, we are working with leading scientists to better implement regenerative burning in forests and working with national bodies to build a better bushfire response plan.

Wildlife grants

In Australia, our grants program provides critical support for hundreds of wildlife rescuers and rehabilitators on the frontlines. Most wildlife carers are volunteers, and animals affected by disaster can require years of dedicated care to be released back into the wild. These grants have helped to:

• provide urgent medications, feed and equipment to wildlife rescuers;
• build enclosures for rehabilitators to build their wildlife-caring capacity; and
• improve disaster preparedness with wildlife triage centres, treatment rooms and crisis containers.