Leonardo DiCaprio donates $4.5 million to Australian Wildfire Fund

Leonardo DiCaprio has donated over $4 million to the Australia Wildfire Fund
Leonardo DiCaprio has donated over $4 million to the Australia Wildfire Fund Photo credit: Getty Images

Actor Leonardo Dicaprio has become the latest Hollywood heavyweight to donate to the Australian Wildfire Fund. 

DiCaprio announced on the Instagram page he co-set up Earth Alliance they would be donating the money "to assist critical firefighting efforts in New South Wales, aid local communities most affected by the wildfires, enable wildlife rescue and recovery, and support the long term restoration of unique ecosystems."

The post urged others to donate.  

DiCaprio joins a long list of celebrities who have donated to cause. Chris Hemsworth pledged AU$ 1 million, while comedian Celeste Barber has set up a fundraiser that hit AU$ 50 million. 

Australian billionaire couple, Andrew and Nicola Forrest's donation dwarfed them all. The couple pledged to donate NZ$72 million to Australian firefighters and bushfire relief. 

Fellow Aussie billionaire James Packer donated $4 million. British singer Elton John chipped in with a cool $1 million. 

The fires have been burning across Australia since October. More than 2000 houses have been destroyed so far, and at least 25 people killed. 

The fires have burned through more than 6 million hectares across the country and over one billion animals are feared to have died in the flames. 

Climate change has been blamed for ferocity of the fires and ecological impact is yet to be known.