Almost three decades after they were rediscover , the ancient " dinosaur trees " of Australia ’s Wollemi National Park were almost wipe out for sound . Wildlife officials in New South Wales feared that the last natural pedestal of Wollemi pine tree would be counted among the zillion of plants andanimalsdestroyed by Australia ’s recentwave of wildfires . But thanks to quick natural action from firefighters , the ancient grove has been saved , The Guardianreports .
The first Wollemi pines date as far back as 200 million years , and the Tree reached peak numbers65 millionto 34 million years ago . Since then , populations have shrunk so drastically that the mintage was thought to be extinct until it was rediscover 26 years ago . few than 200 gaga specimens exist today , and they ’re all concentrated in a protected sandstone plantation in Wollemi National Park , about 125 miles nor'-west of Sydney , Australia .
The Wollemi pine ' delicate status mean that one bad forest fire could spell out its end . With this in mind , the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service and NSW Rural Fire Service prioritized their protection this bushfire time of year . Before the Gospers Mountain fire spread to the canyon where the trees uprise , a team of firefighters was broadcast there by helicopter to establish an irrigation system . This maintain the tree hydrated and made them less vulnerable to fire . Helicopters also dumped ardour retardant around the woodlet to weaken the flak when it arrived .
The efforts were n’t able be able to keep every Wollemi pine tree from damage and destruction — a few tree diagram survived with charring and two more died — but they were enough ensure the continuation of the species . With a universe this small , protecting it is a never - ending battle . In accession to fire , visitor stepping on seedlings and introducing diseases also pose a menace . For that reason , the Australian political science has chosen to hide the exact localisation of the grove from the public .
[ h / tThe Guardian ]
