Aussies Find Fire Relief in 2 Koalas

PHOTO: A koala nicknamed Bob puts his paw around fellow fire survivor Sam at the Southern Ash Wildlife Shelter in Rawson, Australia, on Wednesday.

SYDNEY - A bond between two burned koalas rescued from Australia's deadliest wildfires has provided some heart-warming relief after days of devastation and the loss of more than 180 lives and possibly millions of animals.

Colleen Wood, who runs the shelter, said Sam was introduced to Bob and that both koalas were doing well while other animals like opossums, kangaroos, and wallabies were also starting to emerge from the debris.

Animal shelters and clinics across the region have been inundated with hundreds of burned and blistered creatures who escaped the fires.

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.
Koalas are especially vulnerable to wildfires because they move slowly on the ground.

The wildfires cut through parks and forests and sent countless wombats and other native species fleeing. One expert estimated millions of animals perished in the inferno.

"It's just horrific," said Neil Morgan, president of the Statewide Wildlife Rescue Emergency Service in Victoria, the state where the raging fires were still burning. "It's disaster all around for humans and animals as well."

'A little bit of hope' -

Sam was rescued after accepting water from Tree, a volunteer fireman with the Country Fire Authority Victoria. Tree has visited Sam since her rescue and was delighted to see she had bonded with Bob.

"They've really taken a shine to each other as they are both burned and share the same burned smell," he said. "My heart goes out to the people in these fires and this was so innocent so people have used this to distract them from all the sad stuff that has gone on. It gives people a bit of hope."

Wood said the koalas would be released back into nature once a suitable habitat is found.

"The hardest part is going to be trying to find enough habitat to support these guys," Wood said.