It is pretty standard to have a lot of fires in the top end during the dry season. Usually these are of low intensity and cause little direct impact on wildlife, although flying around any fire are usually numerous birds of preys (mostly kites and crows) snapping up insects or any small animal trying to flee the fire. Black kites have even been observed picking up burning twigs and flying off with them to help spread the fire.
This dry season how ever we have seen several much higher intensity fires close to town which have resulted in wildlife casualties. (Still nothing like the scale recently seen in victoria).
This mother possum was brought to us by fire fighters. She was unfortunately unsavable since she had such severe burns. The only way we could help her was by putting her down. However shielded in her pouch was her baby. His mothers body had protected him from the flames and smoke and he escaped with only minor burns to his fingers. He is now being cared for and should be releasable in a few months time.
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