The WWF reported that around 143 million mammals, 2.46 billion reptiles, 180 million birds, and 51 million frogs were affected by the severe bushfires in Australia. The fires, which destroyed over 11 million hectares of land, were considered one of the worst wildlife disasters in modern history. The research conducted by the University of Sydney was the first of its kind to analyze the impact of the bushfires on animals across the entire continent, providing valuable insights for other nations to learn from. The overall number of animals affected by the destruction of their habitats has increased, as they now struggle with a lack of food and shelter or the need to move to already occupied habitats. Researchers attribute the rise in animal casualties to a broader assessment of the total affected area, rather than solely focusing on the most impacted states. Australia experienced one of its worst bushfire seasons from September 2019 to March 2020, following years of drought that left the bush unusually dry, resulting in 34 human fatalities and the loss of nearly 3,000 homes.