"Operation Rock Wallaby" was commissioned to send thousands of vegetables from the sky to feed brush-tailed rock wallabies -- an endangered species at risk of extinction
According to a recent estimate from the University of Sydney, over 1 billion animals already may have died as officials warned that Australia's wildfire season -- which generally would last through March -- was nowhere near its end.
On Sunday, helicopters loaded with boxes of sweet potatoes and carrots flew over bushland and canyons.
On Sunday, helicopters loaded with boxes of sweet potatoes and carrots flew over bushland and canyons.
As raging bushfires continue to decimate the animal population of Australia, rescue efforts to save survivors are mounting. Estimates place the death toll anywhere in the millions to billions (although, the accuracy of these figures is up for debate), and hundreds of thousands remain stranded in their burned environments.
Chief among them are wallabies, a population that was already at-risk before the fires began.
"The wallabies typically survive the fire itself, but are then left stranded with limited natural food as the fire takes out the vegetation around their rocky habitat," said Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean, in an interview with The Daily Mail. "The wallabies were already under stress from the ongoing drought, making survival challenging for the wallabies without assistance."
Enter "Operation Rock Wallaby."
Dumping thousands of kilograms of vegetables over Australia's wilderness, volunteers and environmental officials are bringing resources to animals stranded by the fires via helicopter.
Imagine how delighted and confused the wallabies will be to have it rain sweet potato https://t.co/QekzEugmVs— Joanna Holman (@joannamuses) January 11, 2020
Per a report from Australia's 9News, it is one of the most widespread efforts of its kind — delivering food to areas including Kangaroo Valley, the Capertee and Wolgan valleys, as well as numerous national parks.
Again speaking to the The Daily Mail, Kean stated that Operation Rock Wallaby would include ongoing monitoring efforts to ensure wallaby wellbeing. "When we can, we are also setting up cameras to monitor the uptake of the food and the number and variety of animals there."
Food drops will continue until these habitats regain enough moisture and nutrients to sustain life, and efforts to manage rivaling predatory populations are underway now.
— Matt Kean MP (@Matt_KeanMP) January 11, 2020
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