Victorian Bushfires

The Most famous Koala in the World
Photo: Reuters

A koala named Bob, rescued from the deadly bushfires, puts his paw around new friend and fellow fire survivor koala Sam (below) as she recovers from her burns at a wildlife centre near Melbourne.
Photos: Reuters

Sam the koala became the most famous koala in the world when firefighter David Tree stopped to give her a drink amid the Victorian bushfire devastation. Pictures of Sam, who turned out to be a female koala, featured in major newspapers including The New York Times, London’s The Sun and on CNN. The image provided a much-needed picture of hope in a week filled with news of despair.

Colleen Wood from the Southern Ash Wildlife Shelter that is caring for Sam and Bob said both koalas were doing well while other animals like possums, kangaroos, and wallabies were also starting to emerge from the debris.

She said Sam had suffered second degree burns to her paws and would take seven to eight months to recover while Bob had three burned paws with third degree burns and should be well enough to return to the bush in about four months.