BS: Koala and Fire fighter

Subject: BS: Koala and Fire fighter
From: Alice
Date: 16 Feb 09 - 11:44 PM

You can add your caption, but I think the one it has is fine.

Subject: RE: BS: Koala and Fire fighter
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 16 Feb 09 - 11:57 PM

I heard about this incident a few days ago on the radio. It 's very touching. I wonder if this koala will become the Aussie version of Smokey the Bear (now known a s Smokey Bear). "Only you can prevent forest fires."

Subject: RE: BS: Koala and Fire fighter
From: JennieG
Date: 17 Feb 09 - 01:25 AM

Koalas don't usually hold hands with a human....this poor little feller had burnt paws, the CFA man poured some water in his hand to see if the koala would drink it. His hand was obviously cool to touch. But it makes a lovely photo.

BTW I think the koala is a she....named Sam.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Koala and Fire fighter
From: Joybell
Date: 17 Feb 09 - 01:30 AM

I've been sending this all over. I never do that but I've made an exception. Sandra gave a link a few days back.
Thank you Alice for giving the picture its own thread.
Joy

Subject: RE: BS: Koala and Fire fighter
From: 3refs
Date: 17 Feb 09 - 09:17 AM

I've seen both. Almost renews your faith in humanity!
Smokey was just released back into the wild.

Subject: RE: BS: Koala and Fire fighter
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Feb 09 - 10:17 AM

On the radio over the weekend I could hear that Scott Simon was near tears after a reporter described going into the home of a koala rescuer. She had laundry baskets that looked like each contained a toy koala. Then he looked closer and saw each basket contained a singed baby koala that was tightly gripping the toy "mother." Link to radio interview.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Koala and Fire fighter
From: Sleepy Rosie
Date: 17 Feb 09 - 01:51 PM

A million dead animals. Crumbs..

Subject: RE: BS: Koala and Fire fighter
From: GUEST,A Regular
Date: 17 Feb 09 - 02:05 PM

Recall once after fighting a fire that was near enough buildings that we were called to it--I'm a structure firefighter as opposed to woodland/forest firefighter--a wonderful instance of humanity in action. We had to use water on the surrounding brush/trees to prevent the fire from burning the houses. Anyway, one of the guys came with tears in his eyes and in his hands a baby porcupine. I would guess the mother died--they are not a very fast animals. Forestry took the little guy/gal and they were able to release it after a few weeks. A few other times we've been able to 'save' people's pets and it is one of the greatest feelings in the world. I do not think that fellow will ever forget Sam. And maybe Sam will never forget him.

Subject: RE: BS: Koala and Fire fighter
From: Rowan
Date: 17 Feb 09 - 04:39 PM

And I heard on this morning's radio that WIRES is helping out around Beechworth. WIRES (Wildlife Information, Rescue, Education Service) is a NSW group of volunteers that rescue, rehabilitate and release injured/orphaned native animals. Marsupials have very different versions of mother's milk and eutherian milk just doesn't do the trick in most cases so much research has gone into native animals' veterinary requirements.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: BS: Koala and Fire fighter
From: ranger1
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 01:07 PM

Rowan, do you have a link to that organization? DO they accept donations?

Subject: RE: BS: Koala and Fire fighter
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 01:14 PM

"Compassion"

Subject: RE: BS: Koala and Fire fighter
From: Rowan
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 04:22 PM

ranger1, ten years ago I was a founder of its first rural branch, here in the Oz New England.

WIRES Head Office has a website but the WIRES workers in Victoria have suggested that donations regarding the current bushfire rescue events are sent to Wildlife Victoria

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: BS: Koala and Fire fighter
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 05:36 PM

What the koala said I cut this cartoon out of the Sunday paper last weekend & can't find it on-line. I'm planning to visit the library today & flip thru the paper till I find the whole page, than search for it on the paper's website so I can properly link it.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Koala and Fire fighter
From: Joybell
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 06:01 PM

I'm what's called a "foster carer". I'm attached to Wildlife Carers who pass on animals, of all sorts. Today I pick up a young Mudlark for release out here and an egg-eating red hen who'll be for the chop if I don't take her in.
I once met a Melbourne carer with a baby Brushtail Possum. The baby had been found, in it's dead mother's pouch, by workmen. The workmen had rung the carer who'd told them to, "Wrap the mother and baby together in something warm." When the carer arrived to pick up the baby, the dead mother Possum with baby well inside her pouch was carefuly wrapped in a woollen jumper with her head out. Such tenderness and respect.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: BS: Koala and Fire fighter
From: Tangledwood
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 06:14 PM

Thanks for posting that cartoon up Sandra - beautiful.

Goodonya Joy, carers are special people. It must be about ten years ago I had a brushtailed possum slide down the inside of the flue of my potbelly stove (unlit thankfully). She had an eye infection of some kind and a local carer nursed her back to health. This possum still lives in my veranda and has produced I don't know how many young.

Subject: RE: BS: Koala and Fire fighter
From: Rowan
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 07:45 PM

Time flies when you're having senior moments; we started the WIRES New England Branch 20 years ago, not 10. I took the idea to South Carolina but the infrastructure was differently organised. From the info I've gathered over the years it seems that most of the English-speaking countries have their similar organisations centred on professionals. The Oz versions all seem to have 'democratised' the expertise by relying on amateurs (properly trained, of course) for all the relevant activities; rescue, rehabilitation, release and education.

Because so much of Oz wildlife is marsupial, it's quite common to find infants in pouches that, with proper care, can be raised and subsequently released as wild animals, even when they're hairless 'jelly babies'. All WIRES rescuers and carers take it as routine that a roadkill is inspected to check whether it is female and whether its pouch is occupied; if neither is the case the carcase is removed from the road so that it doesn't attract carnivores onto the road to add to the toll.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: BS: Koala and Fire fighter
From: Joybell
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 07:49 PM

That's so good, Tanglewood. So good they have friends like you. Their choices are so limited these days.
It's not easy living with possums and possums and possums and possums. They find living with us humans wonderful of course.

There's a message circulating about the Marysville, folkies. Lynnne Stone's pictures of her burned out home and van are headed,
"Farewell to the home and the old caravan"
(caravan being what we Aussies call a mobile home.)
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: BS: Koala and Fire fighter
From: Peace
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 08:15 PM

Love this shot.

And this.

Subject: RE: BS: Koala and Fire fighter
From: robomatic
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 08:44 PM

You Aussies are a brave bunch, I'm sorry you're having those horrible experiences and the immense loss of human life over such great expanses of territory. I'll pay attention to your inevitable recovery, because you can't be kept down.

I heard the interview last Saturday on NPR here in the States where the reporter described the koala rescue woman, and it was indeed affecting. The interviewer, Scott Simon, is one of the best Americans on radio, I still remember his outstanding performance on Feb 2, 2003 when the shuttle burned up on re-entry.