As you may know, Australia is facing a human and ecological crisis right now, as fires ravage New South Wales. We’ll talk about the cause of these fires, how it’s affecting humans and animals in the area, and how human activity has influenced this disaster. Then we’ll talk about one of Australia’s most iconic animals, the Koala, as well as a whole bunch of other incredible animals found only in Australia. With special guest David Huntsberger.

FOOTNOTES:

1. VOTE on which koala we should adopt for the podcast
2. SO many people have donated to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital that their website is down. We can still donate on behalf of the koala we adopt through their GoFundMe
3. Video of the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital
4. Koalas aren't the only ones in danger, check out the beautiful endangered Corroboree tree frog
5. Bog skinks are in serious trouble
6. Support the NSW Fire Service
7. Donate to WIRES, an Australian wildlife rescue organization
8. WWF has a wildfires donation fund
9. On to some fun stuff, here's a wombat farting and attacking corn
10. Australia's adorable pincushions, the echidna
11. A bandicoot
12. Just kidding, here's a real bandicoot
13. The adorable quoll, call 1-800-QUOLL-ITY-QUOLLS
14. The brushtail possum grabbing things with its little handsies
15. A dingo doing some yoga instruction (do NOT try this at home)
16. Long-nosed potoroo looking emo
17. Noisy kookaburra
18. The all-animals cover of Drowning Pool
19. Pink robins
20. Lyrebirds's standup impressions set
21. Australian magpie mimicking emergency vehicles