Emergency Response to Australia’s Black Summer 2019–2020: The Role of a Zoo-Based Conservation Organisation in Wildlife Triage, Rescue, and Resilience for the Future

Abstract

Modern zoos are increasingly taking a leading role in emergency management and wildlife recovery. In the face of climate change and the predicted increase in frequency and magnitude of catastrophic events, zoos provide specialised expertise to assist wildlife welfare and endangered species recovery. In the 2019–2020 Australian bushfire season, now called Australia’s Black Summer, a state government-directed response was developed, assembling specialised individuals and organisations from government, non-government organisations, research institutions, and others. Here, we detail the role of Zoos Victoria staff in wildlife triage and welfare, threatened species evacuation and recovery, media and communications, and fundraising during and after the fires. We share strategies for future resilience, readiness, and the ability to mobilise quickly in catastrophic events. The development of triage protocols, emergency response kits, emergency enclosures, and expanded and new captive breeding programs is underway, as are programs for care of staff mental health and nature-based community healing for people directly affected by the fires. We hope this account of our response to one of the greatest recent threats to Australia’s biodiversity, and steps to prepare for the future will assist other zoos and wildlife organisations around the world in preparations to help wildlife before, during, and after catastrophic events.

An Analysis of Demographic and Triage Assessment Findings in Bushfire-Affected Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) on Kangaroo Island, South Australia, 2019–2020

“…However, it must be recognised that during this initial period, there were also the highest proportions of koalas with negative outcomes. Parrott et al (2021) likewise reported a high number of wildlife euthanised at triage (20%) during the Victorian bushfires [ 11 ]. Despite this, humane euthanasia by veterinarians is preferable compared with animals dying, from a welfare perspective.…”

“…However, positive outcomes increased over the course of the bushfire response, when burn severity measures, poor body condition, and dehydration were decreasing in koalas presented at triage. Little is published of the outcomes of rescued koalas from previous bushfires; however, a recent study of wildlife rescued from the Black Summer bushfires in Victoria reported that 42% of rescued wildlife were released within 24 h of triage [ 11 ]. As release of KI koalas was more likely to occur for individuals triaged later in the bushfire response, it suggests that some koalas can find means to survive bushfires, despite minor burns.…”

“…As the recent bushfire progressed on KI, a large coordinated state emergency response was mounted, similar to that described for the bushfires in Victoria, Australia [ 11 ], and an important part of this response was the rescue and triage of wildlife, including koalas. In the 2019–2020 Victorian fires, outcomes for rescued koalas included release of 42% of koalas within 24 h of triage, and euthanasia of 20% of koalas at triage [ 11 ]. However, reports of the specific clinical findings of koalas at triage following their rescue from bushfires are limited.…”

“…Longer term impacts of bushfires on wildlife populations such as habitat loss and decreased feed availability due to destruction of trees and other vegetation are also major concerns that have been investigated [ 16 ]. Whilst successful rehabilitation and release of koalas post-fire have been reported, showing the potential efficacy of bushfire rescue efforts [ 11 , 12 , 17 ], high mortality of wildlife is inevitable in high-severity bushfires [ 4 , 11 ].…”

Revisiting the 4 R’s: Improving post-release outcomes for rescued mammalian wildlife by fostering behavioral competence during rehabilitation

“…It can be high-profile and high-stakes when focused on charismatic megafauna or species that may harm humans, and involves considerable labor and financial resources (Molina-Loṕez et al, 2017;Englefield et al, 2019;Morgans et al, 2019;Haering et al, 2021). Scenarios prompting rescue-rehab-release vary and are typically reactive, stemming from catastrophic events posing danger to populations or creating unsuitable habitat [e.g., oil spills (Hong et al, 2020), algal blooms (Lefebvre et al, 2016), wildfires (Parrott et al, 2021), drought (Mo et al, 2021)]; and recurring threats that drive defaunation and compromise welfare [e.g., illegal wildlife trade (Moore et al, 2014;Castro Corteś et al, 2022), orphaning, injury, human-wildlife conflict (Marker et al, 2021)], or threats from occupying human-dominated areas [e.g. vehicle collisions, dog attacks (McAlpine et al, 2008;Kwok et al, 2021)].…”