A very touching story !
Koala bear "Sam" was found by Australian Fireman David Tree in the midst of the
Australia's deadly bushfires.
The moment fireman David Tree met Koala Bear Sam, she was in need of help.
"It's all right buddy, we'll get you some drink. This guy has survived, she's looking pretty bewildered, we need to get her a drink," said David in video of the scene.
"It was amazing, she turned around, sat on her bum and sort of looked at me with (a look) 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 her lips and she just took it naturally.
"She kept reaching for the bottle, almost like a baby."
"I love nature, and I've handled koalas before. They're not the friendliest things, but I wanted to help him," Tree said.
The team called animal welfare officers to pick up the koala Sunday, the day after deadly firestorms swept southern Victoria state.
Sam is in fact a she, and is now being nursed back to health by colleen woods.
Sam will spend the next seven months here at the Mountain Ash Wildlife Center getting the very best care right here in Colleen's kitchen.
Sam the Koala - Health Improving (Feb 12, 2009)
Sam the Koala has died (Aug 08, 2009)
SAM the koala, who became a worldwide symbol of hope in the aftermath of the Black Saturday bushfires, has died. She was expected to undergo surgery today to treat cysts as a result of urogenital chlamydiosis, a life-threatening disease that affects 50% of the koala population.
Vet John Butler told waiting media outside Morwell Veterinary Clinic this afternoon that due to complications with the disease, the best course of action was to put Sam down.
There are plans to have Sam stuffed and displayed in the Melbourne Museum.
