Record-breaking heat in Australia is killing wildlife

Australia is on track to have its hottest January in history, and its wildlife is bearing the brunt of the consequences.

The country has seen temperatures exceed 120°F in some locations, and at least 28 locations in the country set all-time record highs on Thursday, Axios reports.

Dozens of horses and at least one million fish have died as a result of the increasing temperatures, and an estimated 23,000 bats have died since November, Canada's Global News reports, which is close to a third of the entire species in Australia. The temperatures have also caused wildfires, and farmers are struggling to keep some crops alive. Peaches and nectarines "burn on the inside" and cook on tree branches, becoming unusable, said fruit farmer Kris Werner.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up

Australia is expected to continue to see above-average temperatures during February, the final month of Australia's summer season, per Axios.