Amidst Utter Devastation, a "Small Beacon of Hope"

In the aftermath of the devastating destruction and terrible loss of life from last week’s bushfires in Australia, an image showing a firefighter giving a drink of water to a koala has captured the hearts of people all around the world.



Here’s how Reuters describes the circumstances surrounding the taking of the above image by Mark Pardew:

A koala (later named Sam) is given a drink of water by Country Fire Authority volunteer fire fighter Dave Tree after he rescued her following deadly fires that swept through the area of Mirboo North, about 120km (75 miles) southeast of Melbourne, on February 8, 2009. The koala, bewildered and badly burned, has emerged from the ashes of Australia’s deadliest bushfires as a small beacon of hope after days of devastation and the loss of more than 180 lives.

For more on this story (including the fate of Sam), click here.


See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
A Visit to the Koala Hospital
Billabong Koala Park