Sam the Koala is an auntie now!
May 18th, 2009 | By mervi | Category: Featured articlesMay 18, 2009 12:00 am by Kelly Ryan – Source: heraldsun.com.au
SUPERSTAR Sam the koala is sitting pretty back in the spotlight.
The iconic image of her taking a drink from a firefighter’s water bottle during Victoria’s devastating bushfires has raised more than $500,000 for two good causes.
CFA volunteers who lost their own homes while fighting fires will get $500,000 from sales of the photo.
The Southern Ash Wildlife Shelter, which cares for Sam and other injured koalas, will be handed the remainder of the cash – $6000 so far – to help manager Colleen Wood build a specialist burns centre for koalas.
Sam, 3, remains at the Rawson retreat, almost recovered from her burns and smoke injuries and now a proud aunt of newcomer Baby Bernie.
“She is the most laid-back and easygoing koala in our care,” Ms Wood said of the megastar marsupial.
“She is a bit forward at feeding time, preferring the best leaves over the other animals in her enclosure.
“But she is very gentle with the other females, and is very happy for Baby Bernie to crawl all over her.”
An eye infection, caused by either smoke or subsequent infection, is her only remaining health concern.
Sam’s fame spread worldwide after she appeared on the front page of the Herald Sun, a burnt paw resting in the wet hand of CFA firefighter David Tree as she desperately drank to hydrate herself.
It is arguably Australia’s most famous wildlife photo.
The photograph, taken by a firefighter and owned by the Department of Sustainability and Environment, has been sold through the Herald Sun.
Ms Wood said it was an extraordinary image that could only serve to help the species.
“It speaks in any language as an enduring and timeless image of Australian wildlife and man’s amazing bond with animals in distress, as well as the unforgiving nature of the sometimes merciless Australian environment,” she said.
“But more important are the positive educational and awareness elements of publication of that picture.”
Ms Wood said fears were growing for the future of koalas, as eucalypts continued to evolve to adapt to climate change and continuing drought.
“After a decade of drought, the leaves of eucalypts contain less water and we are finding more and more koalas suffering kidney problems and renal failure.”
Ms Wood, who had 100 koalas in her care in the aftermath of the infernos, now has just a few dozen.
She hopes to establish a specialist centre at her 4ha property where veterinarians can work in sterile conditions treating burnt koalas.
“A specialist burns centre could also be used as an educational and research centre for the better management of burns in koalas and best treatment options.”
GREAT !!! I was waiting for this good news. Often thought about little Sam. Thanks for keeping us posted.
Aww Auntie Sam….this is such a beautiful story. I have often wondered about Sam and the other koalas rescued from that horrible inferno. She is quite a little lady that was born for a big purpose and her story touched the world.
Thank you for sharing this update. It means so much to me. We must also remember those heroic men and women who gave so much and lost so much during those days of hell – Southern Ash Wildlife Shelter ( and others) and Ms Colleen Wood ( and others). I am lost for words when I think about their courage and endurance.
Oh Mervi, thank you for that heartwarming story about Koala-Lady Sam!
OH, that are good news. We all are so touched by the story of that poor little thing, and now she is getting well again. And an auntie she is too.happy end for Sam.
LG
Bea
Oh that is so heart warming! I am so glad Koala Sam is doing so well!
Hello Sam, you´re a great heroine, survived and it helped to save many other. I wait for you can always be in your favorite eucalyptus and to take advantage of the life.
Dear Mervi,
There is not a single day I won’t think about Sam, the photo when she drank from the bottle of the fire fighter is almost onall my hard disks and memory stick several times…So, the update comes to a time Iwas asking myself about her…What happened to the “lover” she found in the center? And when will we get to see little Bernie??? I am so curious how Sam’s life will turn out…
Thank you for keeping us posted…
Birgit