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Article in the
Herald Sun on 25 January 2007 - page 1 and 2
Koalas close together specially
for the photo - (back L-R) Bella Bonita,
Mary and Kelly (front) Levi and Angus
They would sooner be up a gum tree, but the
next best thing is a comfy armchair.
Eight cuddly koalas are lapping up the attention as they
recover from bushfire injuries. Their badly burnt paws mean they can't
climb trees to get their favourite snack, so the animals are bandaged
up and relaxing in washing baskets or on soft chairs. The lucky
survivors of fierce fires around Warrnambool are being lovingly nursed
at the Beremboke Wildlife Shelter near Anakie.
The five females and three males are among just 70
koalas rescued so far from Framlingham State Forest.
Known as the koala capital of Victoria, the area boasted
a
population of about 5000. Melbourne vet Elaine Ong, who has been
helping treat injured animals in the area, fears at least half the
population has died in fires that have burned 1500ha.
Many of the animals have had to be put down but some
have been luckier. Little Lena miraculously survived but was orphaned
last week when her mother died from burns suffered protecting her baby.
Taken into the care of Beremboke shelter managers
Marilyn
Blankley and Gordon Lyall, the young joey has since been adopted by
another koala, badly injured in the Anakie fires almost exactly a year
ago. Mumma K has been cuddling the young orphan close to her chest,
gently nuzzling its ears and comforting it.
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