Researchers later determined that they were Wollemi pines, which were thought to have died out about 2 million years before, based on fossil records. Their location within a nearly 2,000-square-mile national park is kept secret to protect them from contamination or destruction. New South Wales Government Some of the Wollemi pines were charred, but officials said they were largely saved. Most of the national park has been devastated by a mega-blaze known as the Gospers Mountain Fire. New South Wales Government Forecasters expressed hope this week that rain would bring relief to areas hit by the ongoing bushfires.

Source: Huffington Post January 16, 2020 06:00 UTC