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Koala Rescued By Legendary Aussie Is On The Road To Recovery

Koala Rescued By Legendary Aussie Is On The Road To Recovery

Toni risked her life to rescue Lewis the koala from a raging bushfire in New South Wales.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

The heroic act of one woman has been seen around the world, and there's a good reason for it.

Known only as Toni, the woman didn't hesitate when she saw an injured koala limp back into a bushfire burning near Port Macquarie in New South Wales.

She whipped off her top and risked her own life to grab the iconic Aussie animal and carry it to safety at Long Flat.

When Toni knew the threat to her life and the koala's had diminished, she gave the animal a drink and rinsed off all the ash and dust.

9News

Toni declared she would take the marsupial to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital for treatment and thankfully it looks like he's on the road to recovery.

The hospital has named him Lewis, according to 9News, and they reckon he's around 14 years old - which is bloody impressive.

Staff at the hospital are holding out hope that more koalas get picked up in the coming days and weeks and the impact on the local population isn't as devastating as it's reported.

The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital

Two fundraisers have been set up, one by the hospital and another from someone just wanting to see as much money as possible go towards helping one of Australia's most legendary animals.

The first has a goal of $1 million and hopes to set up a new breeding facility to get this koala community back on its feet.

"At the The Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie in NSW Australia, we're on a mission to save our beloved national treasures from bushfires and other threats to their homes," the fundraiser says.

"Our goal is to develop the very first wild koala breeding facility to ensure that wild koalas never become extinct. These koalas will be released into our protected forests."

One of the koalas being treated.
Gofundme/Port Macquarie Koala Hospital

The second campaign is close to realising that first financial goal as it's managed to rack up an impressive $860,000 in donations since it began at the start of the month.

"In what is a national tragedy, the bushfires in and around Port Macquarie in November, devastated a genetically diverse koala population," the GoFundMe reads. "As many as 350 koalas have perished with approximately 75 per cent of the fireground footprint being prime koala habitat.

"Some of the funds raised through the Go Fund Me site will be directed to building a 'Koala Ark', a facility to allow the surviving koalas to be accommodated in a healthy habitat area. Hopefully, these koalas will breed and a new population of koalas will be established for return to the wild."

Featured Image Credit: 9News

Topics: News, Animals, Australia