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Unconscious koala rescued from Australian bushfire by firefighters | Unconscious koala rescued from Australian bushfire by firefighters |
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A koala has been rescued from "out of control" bushfires in Australia after being found unconscious by firefighters. | A koala has been rescued from "out of control" bushfires in Australia after being found unconscious by firefighters. |
Fires swept across Victoria state on Christmas Day, destroying 116 homes and forcing residents of the worst affected areas to spend the night in shelters, according to ABC. | Fires swept across Victoria state on Christmas Day, destroying 116 homes and forcing residents of the worst affected areas to spend the night in shelters, according to ABC. |
While battling the flames, fire authorities found an unconscious koala by the side of the road near the Wye River, Reuters reported. | While battling the flames, fire authorities found an unconscious koala by the side of the road near the Wye River, Reuters reported. |
They brought the marsupial, of which only about 80,000 are believed to be left in the wild, to the fire station and then handed her over to Victoria police. | They brought the marsupial, of which only about 80,000 are believed to be left in the wild, to the fire station and then handed her over to Victoria police. |
She was fed gum leaves and water - the low nutrition, high fibre diet which explains why koalas spend so much time in trees sleeping and digesting - and she appeared to revive. | She was fed gum leaves and water - the low nutrition, high fibre diet which explains why koalas spend so much time in trees sleeping and digesting - and she appeared to revive. |
Now named "Constable K Bear" by police, the koala is in good health according to authorities. | Now named "Constable K Bear" by police, the koala is in good health according to authorities. |
Amy Hidge, of Wildlife Victoria, told The Guardian that it was not known how many animals had died in the fire. | Amy Hidge, of Wildlife Victoria, told The Guardian that it was not known how many animals had died in the fire. |
"Often, you can't see if the pads on their feet have been burnt or if they have smoke inhalation, so we're saying that if they look a bit off, they're probably bushfire affected," she said. | "Often, you can't see if the pads on their feet have been burnt or if they have smoke inhalation, so we're saying that if they look a bit off, they're probably bushfire affected," she said. |
Koalas used to be widespread in Australia, but were shot for sport and hunted for fur from the beginning of the last century. | Koalas used to be widespread in Australia, but were shot for sport and hunted for fur from the beginning of the last century. |
They have also been culled by the Australian government because they were "dying anyway." | They have also been culled by the Australian government because they were "dying anyway." |
Eighty per cent of koala habitat has since disappeared, which leads to about 4,000 exposed koalas being killed by dogs and cars each year, according to the Australian Koala Foundation. | Eighty per cent of koala habitat has since disappeared, which leads to about 4,000 exposed koalas being killed by dogs and cars each year, according to the Australian Koala Foundation. |
The fire along the Great Ocean Road, a national heritage stretch of road along the south-eastern coast, began on Christmas Day with police beginning to evacuate houses in some areas around midday. | The fire along the Great Ocean Road, a national heritage stretch of road along the south-eastern coast, began on Christmas Day with police beginning to evacuate houses in some areas around midday. |
Flames tore mainly through houses in the foothills while sparing the main strip of Wye River, the worst affected town. | Flames tore mainly through houses in the foothills while sparing the main strip of Wye River, the worst affected town. |
Shelley Hyndman, from Surf Coast Wildlife Shelters Group, told Reuters that saving animals was difficult at present “because it’s still out of control, so we’re on standby.” | Shelley Hyndman, from Surf Coast Wildlife Shelters Group, told Reuters that saving animals was difficult at present “because it’s still out of control, so we’re on standby.” |
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