Wildlife Victoria expects ‘catastrophic and long-term impacts’ for wildlife, including substantial loss of life, burns, blindness and starvation

As fires headed toward her Grampians property in the Australian state of Victoria on Boxing Day, wildlife carer Pam Turner sheltered 20 joeys in her living room.

The animals gathered inside – standing alert from the noise of the sprinklers – are all hand-reared by her after being orphaned through car accidents, fence hangings and shootings.

They were too large to be evacuated, yet too young to fend for themselves.

“I just couldn’t have left them, so I was prepared to stay,” says Turner, who operates the Wildwood Wildlife Shelter in western Victoria, which specialises in kangaroos.