A mother kangaroo and her joey perished side by side in the Kangaroo Island fire 2020
Half of Kangaroo Island, more than 800 square miles, was scorched by the fires that devastated the island in the state of South Australia on 9 January. Two people were killed, 30 to 40 percent of the island’s kangaroos are believed to have died, as well as a third of its 50,000 koalas. The island is renowned for its unique mix of animal species – and there are fears it may never recover. Experts have expressed concerns over the survival of endangered species on the island which include the dunnart – a mouse-like marsupial – and the black glossy cockatoo and the native bee known as the green carpenter. Tens of thousands of farm animals, mainly sheep, were also killed in the fire on the island.
The scorched earth of Kangaroo Island stretches far beyond the eye can see 2020
Half of Kangaroo Island, more than 800 square miles, was scorched by the fires that devastated the island in the state of South Australia on 9 January. Two people were killed, 30 to 40 percent of the island’s kangaroos are believed to have died, as well as a third of its 50,000 koalas. The island is renowned for its unique mix of animal species – and there are fears it may never recover. Experts have expressed concerns over the survival of endangered species on the island which include the dunnart – a mouse-like marsupial – and the black glossy cockatoo and the native bee known as the green carpenter. Tens of thousands of farm animals, mainly sheep, were also killed in the fire on the island.
A lone kangaroo that survived the Australian bushfires in Waterholes 2020
A lone kangaroo that survived the Australian bushfires in Waterholes, Victoria of 2019 and 2020. The kangaroo is likely to be stressed and dehydrated and in search of water uncontaminated by ash. Australia’s wildfires have killed at least 24 people, destroyed more than 1,400 homes and ravaged 15 million acres. Hundreds of millions of animals, many found on no other continent, may have perished, according to some estimates.
Note: The text above was written by the Artist. No modification was made by COCA.
Christina Simons
Iceland
http://www.christinasimons.com
Christina Simons is an award winning international documentary photographer. Her work has been exhibited throughout Australia, the United States, England, Spain, Russia and Mexico.
Part Icelandic & American, she resides in Australia. Having worked in the visual arts industry for over twenty-five years her work is represented in notable publications such as The New York Times and The Guardian as well as working with several NGOs such as Medicines Sans Frontiers and UNICEF.
Her passion for human rights and civil liberties have led to series such as “The Haiti Project” on children in domestic servitude, Women’s health in the Philippines and Aboriginal Education in Australia; not to mention her solo-exhibition and multi-award winning series “Running to Nowhere” on Central American Refugees.
Her curiosity of subcultures has produced projects such as award winning series “Derby Girls” and multi-award winning series “Lil Bullfighters” of Mexico.