Bedraggled cockatoo, bats, emus take refuge from Cyclone Debbie
When the strongest tropical cyclone barrelled down on northeast Australia, it flung its worst not only on people and properties, but also animals. Among the animals directly in the path of Cyclone Debbie in Daydream Island, a short distance from the iconic region of Hamilton Island, were kangaroos, birds, bats and sparrows.
Photographers in the area were able to take snaps of animals that tried to dodge or hunker down when the cyclone struck, the Huffington Post reported. While some were able to take refuge indoors with the help of people in the vicinity, others were literally washed out.
Media entities took to social media to show the pitiable state of some animals. “Battered and broken, a cockatoo stands amongst the snapped branches in Airlie during Cyclone Debbie,” News Corp Australia tweeted, triggering comments from netizens who felt sorry for the creatures that suffered.
Other individuals posted reassurances on the care provided for some of the animals that experienced the wrath of the cyclone, including the bedraggled cockatoo. One man commented how horrible the situation was for all the wildlife affected by the cyclone.
Nonetheless, updates on immediate action on the aftermath of the disaster were continually posted on leading social media sites. “For those worried about this cockatoo, rest assured it's being looked after,” a social media editor tweeted.
Severe storms leave in their trail diverse animals like foxes hanging on to their lives. Flocks of bats and birds divert many miles away in front of the storm front, said Professor Simon Robson, who heads James Cook University’s zoology and ecology.
Preventive measures were made when news of Cyclone Debbie intensifying circulated. It appeared, though, that humans could only do so much.
A wildlife sanctuary in North Queensland, Billabong Sanctuary, just south of Townsville, had prepared its animals a few days before the cyclone hit. Volunteers joined hands with employees to fortify enclosures for the animals and temporarily rehome others.
Rangers moved many animals indoors. Some of them, particularly the emus, have had a bit of a shelter so a wall out of sandbags was built for the creatures to get behind, ABC reported. North Queensland Wildlife Care received a large influx of calls for injured wildlife that Cyclone Debbie left behind in its wake.
The eagerness of the public to help has been overwhelming. The help from citizens was very much welcomed, given the extent of destruction and the toll that Cyclone Debbie had on animals and habitats.
