UluṟuOnly 10% of desert heath myrtle survived the park’s hot drought.
The 2018-21 drought was the park’s worst on record, and heat waves now run hotter.
Surveys found 78% of desert oak survived, and new research suggests water use may explain why species die at different rates.
“When we go out to look around, we see the numbers going down,” said Aṉangu ranger Natalie Ray.
Hundreds of square kilometres of the park already show dieback, and the research continues.
How each outlet framed it
- Phys.org
- documents drought-driven plant and animal die-off at Uluru-Kata Tjuta since 2018, citing Aṉangu ranger observations
Sources: Phys.org