Australia is known for its unique animals and incredible wildlife. Some of the native animals are very popular around the world, such as the koalas, kangaroos, and possums. Now, some of these animals are either dead or fighting for their lives.
Since September 2019, when massive bushfires simultaneously started in various regions around Australia, its’ residents and wildlife have seen rough times. Firefighters and volunteers across the country have been working 24-7 for the past three months to contain the fires.
Over 6.3 million hectares of Australian bushes and forests have been demolished in uncontrollable fires. About half a billion animals have been killed in the fires, with a significant number suffering from varying degrees of burns. At least 27 people died as well. Locals have discovered dozens of injured and dehydrated animals along the east coast. Some animals are even going up to bicyclists to drink their water or to get help.
Sadly, with the animals’ natural habitats destroyed and no way to migrate, numerous ecosystems in Australia face possible extinction if the creatures are not rescued and rehabilitated. In an attempt to help the injured animals, crafters around the world have united to make koala mittens, kangaroo pouches, bird nests, and bat wraps.
The Rescue Craft Collective is the non-profit subsidiary of the Animal Rescue Craft Guild, founded by Morgan Leigh, that’s responsible for distributing the knitted items to the hospitalized animals. Many of the animals are suffering burns, scalds, and respiratory distress. The country’s wildlife hospitals are overflowing with thousands of injured animals, including squirrels, bats, raccoons, wallabies, koalas, pygmy possums, kangaroos, birds, and lots more. Many non-profit organizations have set up tents and relief homes to assist hospitals in offering medical care to the animals.
One of the organization’s organizers, Nicole Blums, explained:
If it’s an animal that’s lived in the bush, they’re ending up in wildlife hospitals at the moment. Reptiles, koalas, joeys, snakes are all being found by people either trying to escape the fires or being caught in them. We have people knitting koala mittens for burnt pads and sewing pouches for marsupials. People are so passionate to help the animals; they want to save our national emblems, and they want to do whatever they can to help.
The Rescue Craft Collective has thousands of volunteers working for free to provide clothing for the animals. Leigh said the organization now has enough koala mittens and is asking people to focus on wraps to swaddle baby bats, pouches for baby kangaroos, and nests for homeless birds and rodents. The non-profit also requests all pouches and wraps to be made out of 100% cotton flannel and blankets knitted from natural fibers, including wool.
Canadian Shana Panasuk, said:
Some of the animals are rescues, like kangaroos that lost their mothers, so they need the pouches so they feel safe and can develop normally.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare is grateful for all the mittens that kind people have provided, and they have enough to serve all the animals. However, they are still in need of monetary donations to help pay for medical supplies.
Blums claims the organization has raised more than $75,000 to support koala hospitals. Thankfully, The Rescue Collective has over 1,000 volunteers assisting health care providers in handling the increasing number of animals. To get involved with Rescue Craft Collective, you can join their Facebook group.
