Toxic smoke killed endangered Australian mice far from raging summer bushfires, in what researchers say is the first confirmed example of animals dying from inhaling fumes outside burning areas.

Charles Sturt University researchers said Australian 'smoky' mice -- so called because of their silvery grey fur -- began dying in captivity three days after the first wave of hazardous smoke wafted over the nation's capital, Canberra, in January.

"The smoky mice that died developed severe lung disease, with large amounts of microscopic particles matching the deadly PM2.5 known to be produced by bushfire smoke," wildlife health expert Andrew Peters said.

Nine of the mice at the captive breeding facility near Canberra died in the days that followed, despite the nearest fires burning more than 20 kilometres (12 miles) away.

Peters said the findings suggested the toll on Australian animals could be higher than previous scientific estimates, which had put fauna losses in burned areas at more than one billion creatures.

"Now that we know that bushfire smoke can kill wildlife at large distances from the fires, it is possible wildlife have been impacted across far greater areas of Australia than previously thought," he said.

"The deadly smoke may also have killed animals in the remnant pockets of unburnt vegetation currently thought to have provided refuge to wildlife."

The smoky mouse, which is listed as a endangered by the government, live in small pockets of habitat in southeastern Australia that were badly impacted by the summer blazes.

It is one of more than 100 threatened species directly impacted by the months-long bushfire disaster.

Related Links
Darwin Today At TerraDaily.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Nearly 50 rhinos killed in Botswana in 10 months as poaching surges
Gaborone, Botswana (AFP) Feb 24, 2020
At least 46 rhinos have been slaughtered in Botswana in 10 months, a government official said on Monday as the southern African wildlife haven reported a surge in poaching of the endangered species. The killings - slightly under 10 percent of Botswana's total rhino population - have occurred in the northern Moremi Game Reserve since April last year. "Poaching has risen at an alarming rate in this area," Moemi Batshabang, a deputy director with the government's wildlife department told AFP. ... read more