Thousands of animals could be put down after suffering severe burns in devastating bushfires in New South Wales.
An estimated 6,000 sheep and 12,000 cattle survived the bushfire. Unfortunately, they suffered serious burns that they are due to be put down.
The catastrophic bushfires in the Upper Murray have destroyed over 111,600 thousand hectares and sat at a ‘watch and act level.’
More than ten homes have been wiped out in Cudgewa. The blaze caused the evacuation of the Corryong town, with crews from the Victorian Country Fire Authority guiding around 70 vehicles to safety.
Pia Barker, a resident, spent 12 hours in the evacuation center at Corryong School before officers evacuated others to Tallangatta.
Describing the situation, she told the Herald Sun: “It was shocking. Houses burnt to a crisp, all the dead animals,” she expressed.
Leith McKenzie, an incident controller, said that things in Talangatta could get even worse, mentioning it is possible blazes burning in Victoria and New South Wales could ‘suck each other in’ and make a huge fire.
A farmer in Coolagolite was forced to put down his 20 cows after blazes swept through their area between Bermagui and Cobargo.
According to reports, around 480 million animals have died since the fire started in October.
One internet user commented: “My condolences to these farmers who are forced to do this.
These are not just animals in stockyard waiting to be processed. They ARE HIS animals. Many may have been raised since birth and productive family members in his farming ops. Sad when natural disasters make it impossible for these farmers to tend to their animals and are forced to take drastic actions to end their pain and suffering.
”
Another wrote: “Just all very devastating, never seen it so bad.”
A third added: “Have had to do that 20 years ago,but,it was 200 sheep.”
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Replaced!