December 31st 2024.
A wildlife rescuer named Pam Turner found herself in a terrifying situation as bushfires approached her sanctuary in the Grampians of Victoria. In a now viral video, she can be seen frantically gathering 20 kangaroos and other small animals inside her home to protect them from the impending danger. While the footage may seem amusing, it also serves as a reminder of the horror faced by both locals and animals during the devastating bushfires.
In an interview, Turner shared that on Boxing Day, she had made the decision to stay and defend her home. She had even spent $11,000 on a sprinkler system and had 3 fire pumps on loan, ready to be used as sprinklers. Additionally, she had 2 other fire fighting units at the ready. Despite her preparations, she knew that there was only so much she could do to protect her sanctuary and its inhabitants.
In a race against time, Turner quickly gathered some of the recently soft-released young kangaroos and brought them inside her home. She wished she could have saved more, but unfortunately, it wasn't possible. In the end, she managed to save 20 kangaroos, along with some small birds and gliders. With all the sprinklers turned on, she and her team worked tirelessly to saturate the area and keep the flames at bay.
In the video, Turner can be seen trying to keep everyone calm as the noise from the sprinklers startles the animals. However, within ten minutes, everyone had settled down and was lying down calmly. Fortunately, the fire changed direction and missed the sanctuary. But Turner knows that the outcome could have been much worse. She estimates that a "massive" number of animals would have been killed, including tree-dwelling animals, lizards, snakes, echidnas, and other ground-dwelling wildlife.
Sadly, the impact of the bushfires is far-reaching and devastating. Several homes, sheds, and outbuildings have been lost in Victoria's south-west. The fire has already burnt over 74,000 hectares, equivalent to the size of Singapore, and is expected to continue for weeks. It is a stark reminder of the Black Summer fires of 2019-2020 and the severe fire conditions that firefighters are still battling against today.
In the midst of this tragedy, there is some hope. An online fundraiser has been set up for Turner's sanctuary, with $36,000 raised so far. This money will go towards helping the survivors of the bushfires, including those who have suffered burns and smoke inhalation. While the road to recovery will be long and difficult, Turner remains grateful for the support and generosity shown by the community.
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