Koalas in the wild will normally have nothing to do with humans. The devastating fires in Australia are an extraordinary situation, which drove a little female koala named Sam to seek help from a firefighter. A picture taken of the event has made Sam an international star. Firefighter David Tree tells the story.
“I could see she had sore feet and was in trouble, so I pulled over the fire truck. She just plonked herself down, as if to say ‘I’m beat’,” he said.
“I offered her a drink and she drank three bottles.
“The most amazing part was when she grabbed my hand. I will never forget that.”
Sam now lives at the Mountain Ash Wildlife Shelter, where she was treated for burned paws.