"Vivid in my memory are those first moments of extreme heat, hustle and bustle, and a rapid intake of a culture far different than my own. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed but excited! I’d be spending the next two weeks in a small community providing what help I could, then heading to an elephant sanctuary. Little did I know that the first week would change me forever."
It is estimated that the country lost nearly one billion native animals and its devastation is being felt across the country. Most visitors to Australia will not see or feel any impact of these fires unless they specifically choose to travel to affected regions such as southern New South Wales, southeast Victoria, and Kangaroo Island in South Australia.