Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

BoredPanda Add post form topAdd Post Search
Tooltip close

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

Animals Who Survived Australian Fires Are Starving, So These Planes Dropped Tons Of Vegetables For Them
101.6K

Animals Who Survived Australian Fires Are Starving, So These Planes Dropped Tons Of Vegetables For Them

ADVERTISEMENT

Australians are finding innovative ways to help the animals affected by the bushfires that continue to ravage the country. The government of New South Wales is using planes to drop thousands of kilograms of carrots and sweet potatoes to feed starving animals.

This stunning and creative idea is nicknamed ‘Operation Rock Wallaby’ and it’s led by the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service. The main goal of the operation is to feed the state’s marsupials since the bushfires greatly affected them.

So far, aircraft have dropped over 2,200 kilograms of fresh vegetables from the sky. Cloudy with a chance of carrots? Definitely. Scroll down for Bored Panda’s interview with an Australian from Kangaroo Island about the current situation there.

Australians are dropping thousands of kilograms of fresh veggies from the sky to feed starving animals affected by the bushfires

Image credits: AnimalsAustralia

Image credits: AnimalsAustralia

Image credits: Matt_KeanMP

Image credits: Matt_KeanMP

According to Matt Kean, the New South Wales Environment Minister, the animals who fled the fires now don’t have anything left to eat which is why they need a helping hand. One species greatly affected are the wallabies.

ADVERTISEMENT

Wallabies fled the fires and are now starving

Image credits: AnimalsAustralia

Image credits: Matt_KeanMP

Image credits: AnimalsAustralia

Bored Panda spoke to local Steve, a cousin to two teenagers who drove around Kangaroo Island in a car saving koalas, about the current situation in Australia. Steve remains cautiously optimistic that the wildlife will recover, in time.

“The koala situation is certainly dire, but I remain cautiously optimistic. The fires destroyed a lot of their habitat, but since their primary food source is one that germinates through fire I think we’ll see nature bounce back rather quickly. That’s my hope anyway. The aim is to keep the existing population fed and cared for in the meantime,” he said about the Australian koala population.

ADVERTISEMENT

Image credits: AnimalsAustralia

ADVERTISEMENT

Image credits: AnimalsAustralia

Image credits: AnimalsAustralia

Image credits: AnimalsAustralia

According to him, the locals in the midst of the natural disaster are “working tirelessly to help the situation.”

“Some, my mother included, are going and cooking meals for them, others are rescuing wildlife. There have also been a number who have risked the fires to attempt to save their homes with mixed success. My grandparents, for example, were able to save their home. They obviously put themselves in harm’s way by doing so and made the job of the firefighters harder, but it’s hard for some people to just let their whole world burn down.”

“My grandparents bought the home to renovate into their retirement home and have spent years remodeling. They were unable to leave it to chance and while successful their efforts are seen negatively by a number of us,” he added.

Image credits: AnimalsAustralia

ADVERTISEMENT

Image credits: AnimalsAustralia

Image credits: JKato3333

Steve explained that he’s sad about the ordeal his country and community are going through. “I grew up on Kangaroo Island and a very large portion is now in ashes. It’s disheartening to see the level of destruction and be powerless to stop it.”

“The entire situation seems to have been preventable to a large degree. Recent changes by the government are perceived by many as being the culprit on what has been the worst fires for a long time. Previously, it was common practice to ‘back burn’ so as to mitigate the risks of fire, but that practice was halted and as such provided the fires with more burning material and made it easier to spread.”

He continued: “Australian trees are prone to fire because they germinate through fire, which is the same issue that California has. If these regulations are not returned to common usage these fires may become a recurring feature of Australian life.”

Internet users were very enthusiastic about the veggie operation

ADVERTISEMENT
Share on Facebook
You May Like
Popular on Bored Panda
What do you think ?
Add photo comments
POST
jennyjoz avatar
mintyminameow avatar
Mewton’s Third Paw
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Funny how the AllLivesMatter people don’t have a problem with AnimalLivesMatter.

Load More Replies...
lsoo avatar
Raine Soo
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a good initiative. The animals in Australia need all the help they can get.

sonja-szabrotska avatar
Sonja
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

a litlle kangaroo wonders:" do you see that, mom? whats that? raining...carrots? is it christmas time?" :))

cjucz22 avatar
Christina Uhlir
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm not sure if ALL Lives Matter also includes animals. A huge majority of people are not aware of animal suffering, and don't want to be bothered with it. That's the reason why humans are incapable co-exist in peace; there's the indisputable link between animal cruelty and violence against fellow human beings.

Load More Replies...
Load More Comments
jennyjoz avatar
mintyminameow avatar
Mewton’s Third Paw
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Funny how the AllLivesMatter people don’t have a problem with AnimalLivesMatter.

Load More Replies...
lsoo avatar
Raine Soo
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a good initiative. The animals in Australia need all the help they can get.

sonja-szabrotska avatar
Sonja
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

a litlle kangaroo wonders:" do you see that, mom? whats that? raining...carrots? is it christmas time?" :))

cjucz22 avatar
Christina Uhlir
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm not sure if ALL Lives Matter also includes animals. A huge majority of people are not aware of animal suffering, and don't want to be bothered with it. That's the reason why humans are incapable co-exist in peace; there's the indisputable link between animal cruelty and violence against fellow human beings.

Load More Replies...
Load More Comments
Popular on Bored Panda
Trending on Bored Panda
Also on Bored Panda