DENVER – The Denver Zoo on Friday announced it was donating $5,000 to help in animal rescue efforts as Australia deals with devastating wildfires burning in the southern part of the country.
The Zoo said it was making an "immediate contribution” of $5,000 and matching up to $5,000 more through its Field Conservation fund to Zoos Victoria, a world-leading zoo-based conservation organization that works to fight wildlife extinction.
Zoo officials also said they’re closely monitoring the events in Australia and will “evaluate other ways to assist in the near future,” which could include the zoo getting involved in a more direct manner.
If you’d like to help, you can do so by donating here.
More than 1,000 crews, including a recent deployment of American firefighters, are working to contain 23 fires that have burned over 1.2 million hectares of land in the state of Victoria.
Firefighters are also battling 132 fires in the neighboring state of New South Wales.
Scientists and wildlife experts estimate the fires have killed more than a billion animals in Australia.
RELATED HEADLINES –
Here’s how you can help the victim of the Australian wildfires
How knitters and sewers around the world are helping Australia
Koalas likely dying by the hundreds as Australian wildfires tear across their habitat
