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Bushfire mystery

Have a billion animals died in Australia’s fires? And which ones are likely to survive?

Animal suffering has been a painful part of the story of Australia's bush fires. Headlines have claimed that they’ve killed more than a billion animals. But some experts aren’t convinced. Tim Harford speaks to Professor Kate Parr of Liverpool University to see how these figures were calculated, how accurate they are and whether some animals are more likely suffer fatalities than others.

(Aftermath of a bushfire that swept through bush and farmland in Kangaroo Valley NSW, Australia. Credit: Wolter Peeters/via Getty Images)

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9 minutes

Last on

Tue 14 Jan 2020 03:50GMT
BBC World Service West and Central Africa

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Broadcasts

  • Sat 11 Jan 2020 18:50GMT
    BBC World Service News Internet
  • Mon 13 Jan 2020 13:50GMT
    BBC World Service except News Internet
  • Tue 14 Jan 2020 02:50GMT
    BBC World Service except West and Central Africa
  • Tue 14 Jan 2020 03:50GMT
    BBC World Service West and Central Africa

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Podcast

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    Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics used in everyday life