[ealexhudson]

There was a biologist on BBC Radio 4 this morning making exactly the point, and actually going a few steps further: as well as the numbers being extremely high, there are a number of species endemic to Australia whose habitat is entirely within the areas of the fire. He was able to name three or four species which may be entirely extinct at this point due to the fires (obviously, until the fire's gone, it's difficult to tell for sure...)