Caring for animals during disasters

Animals are often overlooked during disasters. But with the rising frequency and severity of bushfires and floods, and other emergencies, HSI Australia is scaling up its disaster response capability – and using some innovative technology to do so.

Rheanon Nichols, HSI Australia’s Disaster Response Program Officer, discusses how HSI Australia saves wildlife during an emergency and what you can do around your place.

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The impact on wildlife is rarely mentioned during emergencies. Why is that?

There's a lingering myth that wildlife can instinctively survive, so media typically focuses on human and property impacts. However, with increasing habitat loss, climate change and biodiversity loss, animals are more exposed than ever during disasters. Public awareness is growing about wildlife vulnerability, especially as recent disasters have shown how animals struggle to find shelter, food, or escape from danger.

How vulnerable are native animals during disasters?

Just like humans, many native animals become trapped or isolated by fires, floods, or storms. And due to human-made barriers and loss of natural escape routes, they become even more vulnerable. This results in higher mortality and more animals needing to be rescued.

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Why did HSI Australia start scaling up its disaster response capability?

Natural disasters disproportionately affect ecological communities that are already at risk. This combined with the current extinction crisis means Australia is at risk of losing the natural environment that makes up so much of our national identity and supports our unique biodiversity.

By enhancing our capacity and reach, we can provide urgent aid to distressed animals and, importantly, to animal rehabilitators as well. We also collaborate with other response agencies and provide a lot of value and expertise for more comprehensive support.

What is a typical deployment strategy for HSI Australia?

Rapid assessment, resource mobilisation, and partnership coordination. Teams conduct needs assessments to prioritise the highest needs for response, and deploy trained responders and resources, such as food and hydration supplies and rescue equipment. Historically teams will swap out after a two-week period during an elongated response (where possible) to ensure mental and physical health is maintained.

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How does the team operate (roles, resources etc.)?

Humane Society International Australia's Emergency Response Team consists of HSI staff who conduct search and rescue operations in coordination with veterinarians, rehabilitators, first responders (e.g. SES) and international responders such as the team from Humane Society International (global). Our team is trained in wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and handling, and mobilises with search and rescue equipment, food and drinking water for wildlife and for domestic animals.

Roles are distributed depending on training and experience. Certain staff fill specialised roles, and our partnerships with local wildlife groups, individual carers, authorities and other animal welfare organisations, strengthen our on-ground impact.

We work closely with HSI Global on international and local responses.

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What happens to rescued wildlife?

Rescued wildlife is triaged and treated for injuries by veterinarians on the ground. Minor cases can often be addressed on-site but severe cases are always transported to rehabilitation facilities. Hydration is often the essential first step, and then safely transporting at-risk wildlife out of the heat of the charred remains that was once their habitat.

Wildlife carers play a critical role in the rehabilitation and recovery process, providing long-term care until the animals are fit for release. The goal is to return animals to their natural habitats whenever possible and not negatively affect pre-existing populations and biodiversity.

Tell us about the recent training in India.

That training emphasised how important cross-border coordination and cultural sensitivity and knowledge is to an international team.

Other country offices respond to different types of emergencies and support different communities. India, for example, experience an extremely high amount of land slides and flooding, so a lot of the training we did was surrounding rope search and rescue and recovery.

HSI India also does a lot of community-centred preparedness and mitigation activities, including education projects in schools, that’s not necessarily wildlife specific. Because of this, the HSI Australia team came away with a much deeper understanding of intersectional approaches to community outreach and recovery, something we do at a much lower level here.

Learning from a diverse range of environments and cultures provides so much insight into adaptive strategies and problem-solving techniques. Utilising these skills in a culturally sensitive way is something we all need to harness if we are to effectively support a global response.

What role will drones play in future disaster responses?

Drones enhance our ability to locate wildlife in inaccessible or dangerous areas, especially during fires and floods. Drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras can detect animals in dense vegetation or debris, significantly improving rescue outcomes. Given a lot of our wildlife is also nocturnal, thermal imaging can be used for detection at times of the day when the naked eye is of little use.

Drones also map disaster-affected areas and monitor habitats post-disaster and will increasingly become integral to disaster responses, enabling faster, safer, and more comprehensive operations.

Given the increase in frequency and severity of natural disasters, is there a limit to what HSI Australia can do or will we see a continual increase in capacity?

While there are practical limits to resources and personnel, HSI Australia remains committed to expanding its disaster response capacity. This includes scaling up through partnerships, community training programs, and investing in innovative technologies like drones and mobile veterinary units.

However, addressing root causes like climate change and habitat loss is critical. Protecting biodiversity and wildlife is so crucial to protecting our climate, and consequently our communities. Advocating for sustainable policies and engaging in conservation initiatives complement on-ground efforts.

HSI Australia has a long history of campaigning and political advocacy, working closely with governments in Australia to deliver improved and effective change.

Thanks Rheanon, any final words?

Yes! If you’re passionate about wildlife, simply go outside and identify what native species you have on your property and in your wider community. These can be plants, animals or even ecosystems. Talk to likeminded people in your area and build your awareness of local native species' needs.

Advocating for conservation measures further enhances coexistence with wildlife, and the more prepared and experienced you are before an emergency, the easier it will be for you to make quick, informed decisions for yourself and your environment.

What can you do?

If you live in a higher risk area, here are some quick tips to help you protect wildlife:

• Plant native vegetation (there are lots of online tools to find out what vegetation is native to your area, and what your local wildlife would prefer to have for dinner)
• Install simple water sources during dry periods, such as: shallow birdbaths, ground-level water bowls for ground-dwelling animals such as lizards, wallabies or echidnas; ponds and natural water ways with gradual edges to attract frogs, turtles and insects like dragonflies; water troughs for larger animals, placed away from livestock, roads and fencing (where possible)
• Avoiding pesticides
• Keeping pets indoors, especially at night, minimizes threats to nocturnal wildlife.

Before and during disasters, prepare your property by:

• Having water stations ready as outlined above, regularly refilling and providing supplementary food like native seed mixes or fruit where viable
• Set up temporary shelters like boxes, hollow logs, or tarps to protect wildlife from extreme conditions
• Create a plan to safely report injured wildlife to local groups. Know your local wildlife groups, have their numbers saved and get familiar with phone service dead zones in your area so you can contact them immediately
• Establish cleared areas free from flammable materials to act as refuges for animals during bushfires
• Keep pets secured and avoid clearing debris immediately, as it may be sheltering displaced animals.