Sam has a new boyfriend, a koala the caretakers at the rescue center have named Bob. "Bob is her protector--as soon as she is moved, he's on the move, too. It really looks like he's making sure she's OK," Lynn Raymond, a caretaker at the Mountain Ash Wildlife Shelter in Rawson, told The Associated Press. "They're good company for each other."
Both the koalas suffered burns on their paws in the inferno, and neither is likely to be healthy enough to be released for at least four months. Every few hours, caretakers salve their scorched paws. Initially, both Sam and Bob were given painkillers, and they are both still taking antibiotics. The photograph of Sam and the firefighter has touched so many hearts that the rescue shelter has received dozens of calls. "It's insane," Raymond told AP, laughing. "(But) everybody has been absolutely wonderful."
Baby animals are SO cute! Here's a must-see photo gallery that will have you smiling.
A video captured Tree's encounter with Sam. He walks up to her and says, "You all right, buddy?" When Sam eagerly gulps water from the bottle, he quips, "How much can a koala bear?"
