Environmental tragedy as fires burn through one-fifth of Northern Territory national park

A fire burning in the Tjoritja/West MacDonnell national park. About 20% of the park has been burned. Photograph: Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife

Large fires west of Alice Springs have burnt through 20% of the Tjoritja/West MacDonnell national park in what conservationists say is a nationally significant environmental tragedy.

The fires have been fuelled by a hot March, which followed three years of above average rainfall that increased fuel loads in the semi-arid region.