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NATURE Reports on Australian Bushfire Animal Rescue Efforts – Wednesday, October 28 at 8 p.m


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Nature Reports on Australian Bushfire Animal Rescue and Recovery Efforts

Wednesday, October 28 at 8 p.m. on PBS  

 

A baby bat with pacifier is about to get a “bat wrap” for the evening.
A baby bat with pacifier is about to get a “bat wrap” for the evening.

An estimated 1-3 billion animals died in the horrific Australian bushfires last year. Through the help of tireless volunteers working to rescue the remains of their once-flourishing environment, stories of animal and human resilience have emerged. Rising from the ashes, animal survivors begin their challenging journey back to a wild existence in Nature: Australian Bushfire Rescue, premiering nationwide Wednesday, October 28 at 8 p.m. on PBS, pbs.org/nature and the PBS Video app.

A series of digital shorts, produced by Nature, captured the immediate aftermath of the fires and relief efforts, including the rescue of an orphan wombat, the treatment of one of Australia’s deadliest snakes and the story of a selfless citizen who turned her home into an animal sanctuary. Inspired by those journeys,

Member of the Australian Defense comforts a koala.
Member of the Australian Defense comforts a koala.

the 60-minute documentary will also follow iconic species like koalas, kangaroos and endangered species of parrots as they face a series of hurdles to recover from their trauma and go back into the wild. Their stories of rescue, rehabilitation and eventual release sit alongside the remarkable tales of human compassion and dedication from their rescuers and caretakers.

“With this documentary, we wanted to show the humanity that reveals itself through catastrophe.” said Fred Kaufman, executive producer for Nature. “The people who dedicate themselves to saving and rehabilitating these injured and traumatized animals are incredibly inspiring. It demonstrates how important it is to never lose hope, even in the worst disasters.”

Australia's kangaroos saved from the fire in the Australian forests.
Australia’s kangaroos saved from the fire in the Australian forests. Kangaroos rescued in 2020

Now in its 39th season on PBS, Nature brings the wonders of natural history to millions of American viewers. The series has won more than 700 honors from the television industry, the international wildlife film communities and environmental organizations, including 19 Emmys and three Peabody Awards. The series is available for streaming simultaneously on all station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and the PBS Video app, which is available on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Chromecast. PBS station members can view episodes via Passport (contact your local PBS station for details).