Koala Rescued from Australia's Wildfire Wasteland -- great photo!

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Firefighter David Tree and his crew were patrolling land already burnt out by Australia's devastating wildfires looking for flare-ups when he spotted a koala moving gingerly across the blackened landscape. I just pulled the truck over, bailed out and went after him, Tree told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "I love nature, and I've handled koalas before. They're not the friendliest things, but I wanted to help him."

The koala, clearly in pain from scorched paws, stopped when it saw Tree following behind.

"It was amazing, he turned around, sat on his bum and sort of looked at me with (a look) like, put me out of my misery," Tree said. "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."

http://www.firefightingnews.com/article.cfm?articleID=61735

[canadianbeaver]

1. Wow.....I hope more animals are found.....as well as people...

that koala sure is thirsty...and very thankful I am sure.

What a tragedy for all.

[Booster]

2. I love firefighters - there's no one braver than these guys.

[Doremus]

3. K&R The poor thing.

:cry:

[sinkingfeeling]

4. I love stories that show a person's humanity to another species.

[xchrom]

5. a lovely expression of humanity. nt

[rvablue]

6. One small glimmer of hope in this horrible tragedy....

the first hand accounts of people fleeing last night on the news just broke my heart.

This photo and story is adorable. The koala really needed help. So cute.

[KittyWampus]

7. look at how the koala is holding the fire fighter's hand. Poor baby

[roguevalley]

8. that is the awful part. I remember firefighters talking about the nightmare

of finding charred kangaroos and koalas still trying to get away. I hope they took her some place else so she can eat. nothing there for a long time. The article wasn't clear to me. :*(

[malaise]

9. How lovely

Thanks for this.