Incredible discovery at beloved Aussie national park after tragedy
Signs of life are returning to a beloved Australian national park, where a dramatic post-fire transformation is underway, just months after bushfires tore through the landscape.
A series of striking images shared from the Wimmera region of the Grampians National Park in Victoria reveal a burnt but bouncing-back bush. While charred trunks and blackened soil still dominate much of the scene, fresh green shoots, fungi and returning birdlife point to a hopeful recovery.
Following devastating summer bushfires that burned nearly 80 per cent of the national park, a rapid-response strategy involving habitat pods, emergency feeding stations, and intensive predator control has helped protect some of our most vulnerable wildlife
"Since the bushfires, we've helped critically endangered species that call the Grampians home — we're really pleased to see signs of recovery," Parks Victoria District Manager Mick Smith told Yahoo News Australia. "In the days after the fires, we dropped food using drones and helicopters, hoping some populations had survived."
Mick said volunteers helped put together more than 350 habitat pods that small mammals like the Potoroo can use for shelter from foxes and feral cats while the bush is recovering. "We also ramped up efforts to remove feral animals that prey on native species," he said.
Among the returning wildlife are Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies, which have been spotted on monitoring cameras eating and drinking at feeding stations, including three healthy joeys. "We've also seen Potoroos and Smokey Mice. While there is a long way to go, the signs are good for the native species of the Grampians," Mick said.
Across the national park, epicormic growth is appearing on eucalypts — sprouting from dormant buds beneath the bark — while new seedlings are pushing through the soil.
Shrubs are regenerating from the base, and early successional species like fungi and Banksia are beginning to thrive in the disturbed landscape. An unusual early-season bloom has also been spotted in the form of earth star fungi, whose spores travel widely after fire events.
At the same time, Banksia and Hakea seed pods, long sealed shut by a wax-like coating, are opening in response to heat, dispersing seeds to help regenerate the next generation of plants.
While the return of birds like honeyeaters — which can switch to eating insects when nectar is scarce — is a welcome sign, full habitat recovery will take years.
Rare victory in fight to protect iconic and critically endangered species
Photo shows desperate move to slow down invasive predators in national park
Predators forced out with fence covering 2,000 hectares
Tiny cardboard habitat pods, which resemble little teepees, have played a surprising role in the recovery. Developed with input from First Nations groups, these biodegradable structures offer instant cover for vulnerable species, mimicking the natural debris lost to fire. Over time, they break down and feed the soil — a small but powerful intervention as nature finds its feet again.
"There's still a long way to go, but seeing animals return and vegetation regenerate gives us real hope for the future," Mick said.
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