bushfires

The Bureau of Meteorology has declared an El Niño event in the tropical Pacific Ocean, which is associated with hotter and drier conditions for Australia. Climate change is expected to amplify these effects, increasing risks of extreme heat, bushfires, and coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef.

Two fires in 12 years destroyed most mature native pines in Wyperfeld National Park, a critical habitat for endangered pink cockatoos. The birds now rely on non-native Aleppo pines for nesting and food, though their long-term survival remains uncertain.