View Full Version : (Feb 10, 2009): A really beautiful picture from the Australian fires: Firefighter gives a helping hand to a thirsty koala bear! [UPDATE Aug 2009 - Sam has died]
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE - KOALA DRINKS 3 BOTTLES OF WATER (http://player.video.news.com.au/news/#AChOHqKEQmKMfv52qA_TGucgz0BnnYkO)
:)
One for the animal lovers:
http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,6479322,00.jpg
Source: http://www.news.com.au
YouTube - Thirsty Koala - A Firefighter Gives Koala A Drink (2009 Australian Bushfires)
VotingHillary
02-10-2009, 11:30 PM
that just made my night.
It's a really wonderful image.
ImmaSlave4U
02-10-2009, 11:40 PM
I also saw that today. Very touching...thanks for posting!
Nichelle
02-10-2009, 11:43 PM
Oh, that really IS beautiful. I'm saving that one!
HEALESVILLE, Australia - The koala moved gingerly on scorched paws, crossing the blackened landscape as the fire patrol passed.
Clearly in pain, the animal stopped when it saw firefighter David Tree following behind. "It was amazing, he turned around, sat on his bum and sort of looked at me with like, put me out of my misery," Tree told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "I yelled out for a bottle of water. I unscrewed the bottle, tipped it up on his lips and he just took it naturally. He kept reaching for the bottle, almost like a baby."
The team called animal welfare officers as it resumed its patrols Sunday, the day after deadly firestorms swept southern Victoria state.
"I love nature, and I've handled koalas before. They're not the friendliest things, but I wanted to help him," Tree said.
Tree says he's spoken to wildlife officials, and the koala, nicknamed Sam, is doing fine. And he, it turns out, is a she.
Link (http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090210/world/australia_wildfires_koala_1)
Now with the video - it's very touching!
WATCH THE VIDEO (http://player.video.news.com.au/news/#AChOHqKEQmKMfv52qA_TGucgz0BnnYkO)
YouTube - Thirsty Koala - A Firefighter Gives Koala A Drink (2009 Australian Bushfires)
VotingHillary
02-11-2009, 12:07 AM
Now with the video - it's very touching!
WATCH THE VIDEO (http://player.video.news.com.au/news/#AChOHqKEQmKMfv52qA_TGucgz0BnnYkO)
Watched the video...now need to go find my box of Kleenex.
Nichelle
02-11-2009, 12:08 AM
That was wonderful. I really needed that!
I now must send it to everyone I know.
Ceela
02-11-2009, 12:22 AM
That made me cry. I want to marry him!! Or at least buy him a nice veggie dinner. :D
It's now on youtube:
YouTube - Thirsty Koala - A Firefighter Gives Koala A Drink (2009 Australian Bushfires)
blueskygal
02-11-2009, 01:19 PM
God bless all our little animal friends that brighten our lives.
Thank you so much for posting this touching picture.
joeysky18
02-11-2009, 03:08 PM
Ah, poor thing. This one is lucky. Who knows how many have died in the fire.
I hope they will catch that arsonists and put them on trial for murders.
foxyladi
02-11-2009, 03:21 PM
wonderful thanks so sweet...
Suzan
02-11-2009, 04:08 PM
What a sweet video!!! Now I'm wondering if Koalas are normally that docile or was he just dazed as the firefighter said.
I'm sending this to friends.
What a sweet video!!! Now I'm wondering if Koalas are normally that docile or was he just dazed as the firefighter said.
I'm sending this to friends.
They are not normally that docile. That koala was probably disorientated and desperately thirsty.
Victoria fires koala image of Sam mocked by TMZ.com; Sam reunited with rescuer David Tree (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25042176-1243,00.html)
(News.com.au, 2/12/09)
http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,6482652,00.jpg
SAM the world's most famous koala came face to face with her Victoria fires saviour in gold yesterday, Country Fire Authority volunteer David Tree.
Mr Tree was close to tears when he was reunited with his new furry friend at the Mountain Ash Wildlife Shelter in Rawson, where Sam is recovering from third degree burns to her paws, the Herald Sun reports.
The pair became accidental faces of the devastating bushfires when Mr Tree gave an exhausted Sam a drink from his water bottle in the middle of burnt-out bush in Mirboo North. The photograph has been picked up by major news agencies around the world.
"Who knows if she recognised me or not but I would like to think so," Mr Tree said.
"I got a bit choked up because it has been such an emotional week. It was just good to see her doing well."
Sam was having her dressing changed by carer Colleen Wood when Mr Tree arrived. He said seeing her in pain hit home the damage that the fires were inflicting on helpless animals.
"You could see where the black soles of her paws had been burnt off and they were pink and looked sore," he said. "She's been through a lot."
He said animal carer Colleen Wood told him the koala may not have survived if he had not given her water at such a crucial time, because she would have been suffering severe dehydration.
"This has been a really tough week for everyone so it is good to have one happy ending," Mr Tree said. "She was pretty friendly, she gave me a bit of a sniff and we touched noses."
joeysky18
02-11-2009, 09:08 PM
That is one lucky koala. Countless animals must have died in the fires. Like the firefighter said, it's good to have atleast one happy ending.
Like the firefighter said, it's good to have atleast one happy ending.
Definitely. This koala is mega cute!!!
SoCal4Hillary
02-11-2009, 11:58 PM
Very sweet indeed. I just wish that people who get all misty-eyed at the cute little koala bear in this incident, yet who eat meat, would wake up. Just because the koala bear is cuter [in some eyes] than a cow or pig or chicken, they're really all the same...
joeysky18
02-12-2009, 12:53 AM
Very sweet indeed. I just wish that people who get all misty-eyed at the cute little koala bear in this incident, yet who eat meat, would wake up. Just because the koala bear is cuter [in some eyes] than a cow or pig or chicken, they're really all the same...
what? what is the moral of this story? we shouldn't eat Koala?? Sam's already half-roasted. ok, that's a cruel joke. :eek:
But serious, even the Buddha said we have to take everything in moderation. Buddha teaching is against killing. Those who follows the Buddha teaching must avoid taking life. But Buddha didn't teach that we should not eat meat. But he said "you should not take pleasure in eating" (including vegetable as well as meat). Eat to survive. Not survive to eat.
And don't waste the animal life , i.e. don't waste food. The Buddhist monks can eat meat, but they can't choose what's on their menu. Before every meal, they pray to thank whoever prepared this meal and the lives that were sacrified to make it. They can't have pleasure in their meal. They eat to survive so they can study the teaching of Buddha.
VotingHillary
02-12-2009, 12:54 AM
Victoria fires koala image of Sam mocked by TMZ.com; Sam reunited with rescuer David Tree (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25042176-1243,00.html)
(News.com.au, 2/12/09)
http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,6482652,00.jpg
TMZ should be ashamed of themselves for making fun of this. What a classless, complete lack of civility...and humanity...on their part.
joeysky18
02-12-2009, 01:04 AM
TMZ should be ashamed of themselves for making fun of this. What a classless, complete lack of civility...and humanity...on their part.
Yes, it's not good for American's image.
You know what we normally say when we see stuffs like this from US TV? "American" I know it's not fair but that's how US media projects the US culture and its ways of life.
And I'm so glad that I found you guys here.
blueskygal
02-12-2009, 03:25 AM
what? what is the moral of this story? we shouldn't eat Koala?? Sam's already half-roasted. ok, that's a cruel joke. :eek:
.
i couldn't help myself - LOL!
joeysky18
02-12-2009, 03:29 AM
i couldn't help myself - LOL!
very sorry :p
Although I try not to, sometimes I misbehave.
Sam, the koala, is a star! I love her! So cute. And screw TMZ for mocking Sam & her rescuer.
Brooke
02-12-2009, 07:25 AM
I love koalas!!! so cute!!
I love koalas!!! so cute!!
Sam's health is improving! :) Love her pink gloves!
And she's made a new friend - Bob (a "big boofly bloke")!!!
YouTube - Sam the Koala - Health Improving
Adorable - and such a nice story. I wonder if they will transition well back into the wild or if there are other plans for them. Thanks for sharing this with us, Murray!:)
joeysky18
02-13-2009, 12:45 PM
the pink gloves are cute.
the pink gloves are cute.
For sure!! :p
Sam has died. :(
Sam, the symbol of hope in the Victoria bushfires, has died from a life-threatening disease. 08/09 Sky News
Video News Report #1 - Sam the Koala Dies (http://player.video.news.com.au/news/#1206455554)
Carer Colleen Woods and rescuer David Tree were shocked and sad to hear of her passing.
Video News Report #2 - Koala Sam’s saviours devastated (http://player.video.news.com.au/news/#FiUdMd1TenzW5alRwRFD59h_lPlIVm5U)
VotingHillary
08-07-2009, 02:00 AM
I heard this on the news and remembered not only the koala but that kind firefighter.
More bad news on top of the shootings here at the gym.
This week has just kinda sucked.
Suzan
08-07-2009, 02:06 AM
How sad! Tree was really broken up over it.
I wonder if Sam died of something related to the fires. She may have had lung damage from the smoke. Just sad. It breaks your heart. She was a brave girl.
How sad! Tree was really broken up over it.
I wonder if Sam died of something related to the fires. She may have had lung damage from the smoke. Just sad. It breaks your heart. She was a brave girl.
Nope, worse than that.
Sadly, our furry little friend has passed (http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Sam-The-Koala-Rescued-From-Bushfires-In-Australia-Dies-In-Surgery-For-Chlamydia-Complications/Article/200908115355459?lpos=World_News_First_Home_Page_Fe ature_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15355459_Sam_The_Koala%2C_Rescued_From _Bushfires_In_Australia%2C_Dies_In_Surgery_For_Chl amydia_Complications) away, having suffered from "urogenital chlamydiosis - a serious disease which affects up to 50% of Australia's koala population."
foxyladi
08-07-2009, 11:55 AM
God bless all our little animal friends that brighten our lives.
Thank you so much for posting this touching picture.
:D:D:D:thumbsup:
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