How do native animals cope with extreme heat?
By Alexandra Beech on PM
We still don't know the full scope of the losses of native species in the bushfires.
But experts are agreed it is a catastrophic situation with extinctions possible, even among species not yet identified.
Researchers in Canberra have also been looking into how possums and koalas deal with extremely hot weather and they've come up with some worrying results.
Dr Phillipa Beale, PhD researcher, Australian National University
Sussan Ley, Environment Minister