Koala bears
Posted by RenB on February 12, 2009 – 4:31 am
I found this at a site I don’t like to link to because of the ads. But copied Scott’s post to help call attention to a problem. What I hadn’t known is that koalas normaly avoid human beings… If you are able to help, click on the title.
February 12th, 2009 at 4:45 am
I saw an article about this at the DailyMail today via Rising Hegemon. It’s a good article and some great pics.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1141662/Australians-comfort-badly-burned-koalas-best-friends-surviving-bushfires.html
“Badly burnt koala Bob (top) gives his new friend Sam a hug: Both animals have been taken to a wildlife centre near Melbourne after being rescued from Australia’s deadly bush fires.
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.
‘They keep putting their arms around each other and giving each other hugs. They really have made friends and it is quite beautiful to see after all this. It’s been horrific,’ said Wood.”
February 12th, 2009 at 7:11 am
It’s probably a primal survival instinct, too.
Thank you for posting this, Ren. Just breaks my damned heart. This sooty little wooly-hug of an animal SO reminds me of the geese/raptors/ducks, etc. who had to survive the Exxon Valdez crash, waddling onto the beach, covered in crude oil, so scared and hurt. So grateful that there are people like this firefighter and the animal-care workers and volunteers to think about their greatest natural resources in the middle of this hellfire.
I hope to hell that they find out who started these fucking fires, ’cause I want to lock them in a room with Rupert Murdoch and no food, for at least 200 years.
February 12th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Yes, Terrible, it is pretty much wide spread now, but every little bit helps, you know?
John Aravosis of Americablog was able to relate that that poor thing drank three bottles of water, and put his paw on the fireman’s hand voluntarily, I guess it was in thanks.