Wildfires in Australia and South Africa

Fires in Victoria, Australia are compounding an already critical situation for wildlife, particularly grey-headed flying foxes, following a mass starvation event earlier this year that resulted in a high intake of juveniles into care. This situation was further exacerbated by extreme heatwaves, during which Melbourne recorded temperatures among the highest globally, triggering a severe flying fox heat stress event. At least one wildlife rehabilitation facility has been destroyed. Other carers have evacuated or are preparing to do so, placing enormous strain on an already overwhelmed care network.

At the same time, approximately 245,000 acres have burnt across the Western Cape destroying habitat, farms and infrastructure. Wildlife, farm and domestic animals are all being affected. Our partners at Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary have suffered extensive losses to infrastructure and camps, with 26 big cats evacuated due to immediate threat or imminent danger as the fires engulfed the Sanctuary. Fires in the immediate area and across the province continue to flare up and spread due to dense vegetation, water shortages, limited access and increasing winds.

January 21, 2026 (Australia): Yesterday we did bandage changes and had a complicated case where a mother kangaroo wasn't able to give enough milk to her dependent joey, who showed extreme signs of malnourishment, including dizziness, lethargy, dehydration and weight loss. He is now in care with three orphans.

Every day, at least one new animal burn victim has come in for treatment, and carers continue to work around the clock to provide adequate care. With injuries going untreated in wildlife for this long, we are now dealing with a high risk of infection.

January 20, 2026 (Australia): There are still many fire-affected animals on the ground with calls still coming in from members of the public with compromised kangaroo sightings, significantly mums. Our team went out today and conducted searches, managing to dart and capture three kangaroos. Mums appear to be far worse affected than babies, even out of pouch joeys who mums may be letting back into pouches for protection.

January 20, 2026 (South Africa): Lionesses Jade and Zakara are settling in really well and enjoying their new enclosure. Another lioness and tiger who were subsequently moved to Dr. Caldwell’s facility due to secondary injuries continue to receive treatment. Lions Foundation has agreed to take them into their care, too, as soon as Dr. Caldwell gives the all-clear. 

January 18, 2026 (Australia): Our team has continued supporting emergency affected shelters, including tending to burn victims and sorting bushfire medical supplies, delivering fruit for emergency affected flying foxes, and searching for injured kangaroos and other wildlife. 

January 16, 2025 (South Africa): After careful monitoring of Jade and Zakara at their management camp at Lions Foundation South Africa, the expert team have opened the management camp to the stunning adjoining 1 ha camp. The two lionesses calmly and happily entered and explored their new habitat and spent the day relaxing under the bushveld trees. 

January 15, 2026 (Australia): Our two responders were invited onto a private property with a number of kangaroos and swamp wallabies reported with injuries, with one staff member providing assistance on the ground while the other flew our rescue drone around the property to identify animals in need and provide an aerial view for the darting team in case targeted animals dispersed. At one point, a hail storm hit the property with the associated wind change requiring evacuation of the area. Later, both headed back to Animal Abbey, where they assisted with wombat enclosure groundwork, washing, fruit chopping, orphaned bat and wombat feeds, and stocking of a large flying fox enclosure with 35 bats with food and foliage for the night.

January 14, 2026 (Australia): Two members of our staff deployed to Castle Reigh, close to two other local facilities we are coordinating with on this response. There, they helped the owner of Animal Abbey move 35 grey-headed flying foxes and four bare-nosed wombats to a neighboring property while tree works were done around facilities to reduce fire risk. We bottle-fed several wombats and two orphaned flying fox pups and assisted with cleaning cages, washing bottles and making up formula. Later, we transported some kangaroos with burns who needed to be darted and taken to a shelter for assessment and treatment. 

January 12, 2026 (South Africa): On Friday, January 9, our wildlife director called Panthera Africa sanctuary after being alerted by the local fire network that it was in danger. They expressed the need for emergency evacuation and we remotely facilitated the approval and logistics process with the executive director of Humane World for Animals South Africa, conservation authorities and transport operators. Two lionesses, Jade and Zakara, were carefully immobilized by big cat specialist Dr. Peter Caldwell and transported by van Heerdens Wildlife Solutions. They arrived safely at Lions Foundation on Sunday, January 11.

Australia

• Between the starvation event and the subsequent heatwaves, an estimated one-third of the regional flying fox population has been lost. This represents the most significant mass mortality event since the Black Summer bushfires in 2020.
• The current fires are now impacting remaining food sources and release sites, leaving many animals already in care with no viable options for release.
• Volunteer capacity is significantly reduced, as many usual responders are prioritizing safety preparations for their own homes. We remain in close contact with wildlife carers to monitor impacts, intake capacity, and immediate support needs. 

South Africa

• The Western Cape government has spent ZAR15million on aerial deployment alone to try and stop the fires. This excludes private and Fire Protection Association contributions.
• Fires across the province continue, with approximately 200,000 acres already burnt. The Western Cape government is calling for a Provincial Disaster to be declared due to the extent of the fires, water shortages, and the continued fires. This follows a National Disaster declared after the severe rain and flooding in the northern parts of South Africa and some of its neighbors this week.
• In addition to the gale force winds and high temperatures experienced, it has been confirmed that several fires were deliberately started by arsonists and investigations are underway.