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Sam (koala)

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Sam
Sam on the cover of the Bushfire Aid CD
SpeciesKoala
SexFemale
Nation fromAustralia
Known forBackburning survivor, subsequently linked to Black Saturday bushfires
Sam the Koala

Sam (died 6 August 2009) was first a male and then a female koala allegedly from the forests of Mirboo North, Victoria, Australia, later shown to have been (for the drinking Koala) a long term captive pet Koala from elsewhere who became known when a video of her being rescued from a bushfire by a firefighter was distributed on the internet and through the media.

Initial encounter

A staged and set-up mobile phone video of the event, a bootleg of earlier events in SA and Victoria,[1] which attracted over 1,100,000 hits on YouTube,[2] shows firefighter David Tree approaching Sam who initially attempts to flee but then stops -- Tree later speculated that the koala had been thinking "I can't run, I'm weak and sore, put me out of my misery" -- and Tree calls for water.[1] Sam is then shown drinking from a bottle he is holding for her.[3] She is also seen allowing herself to be patted, and holding her paw on his hand. Sam became a symbol of hope.[4]


Treatment

The female Sam was subsequently taken to the Southern Ash Wildlife Centre in Rawson[5] where she was found to be suffering from second-degree burns to her paws and given painkillers.[1][6] Caretakers at the shelter expected that it would take her about eight months to recover.[1][7] Based on the condition of her teeth, the shelter manager estimated her to be between two and four years old.[1] She was placed with a male koala named Bob,[7] who had been rescued from another of the bushfire areas two days earlier and was suffering from third-degree burns.[1]

Subsequent events

Sam's story (as concocted) was featured in media outlets worldwide, including the The New York Times and CNN.[8] Gossip site TMZ.com mocked the rescue, calling Sam "pampered";[9] this drew significant reader backlash and attention. TMZ later apologised to Sam and to Australia as a whole.[10]

An image of Sam with David Tree was used as cover art on a fundraising CD, Bushfire Aid, to which 35 national and international artists donated songs. All proceeds were donated to the Salvation Army Bushfire Appeal.[11] A total of AU$300,000 has also been raised for the Country Fire Authority and other charities through selling photographs of Sam's rescue.[12]

Sam was euthanised on 6 August 2009. The decision was made after exploratory surgery on her bladder and uterus to evaluate the possible removal of cysts caused by urogenital chlamydiosis. As her condition was inoperable the veterinarian stated that the decision was made to euthanise to prevent her suffering.[13] Sam's remains were moved to Melbourne Museum where they were preserved as a symbol of the bushfires.[14][15]


References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Belinda Goldsmith. "Koala love story wins hearts after deadly Aussie fires". Reuters. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  2. ^ "Australian bush fires: Thirsty koala becomes Australia's wild fire star". The Daily Telegraph. 11 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  3. ^ "Burned koala accepts a hand". The Associated Press. Los Angeles Times. 11 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  4. ^ "Sam the koala, a symbol of hope, rises from Australia's ashes". The Irish Times. The Irish Times. Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 09:33. Retrieved 21 Feb 2009. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ Staff Writer (2009). "Koala Sam meets her saviour". Gold Coast. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  6. ^ Gelineau, Kristen (12 February 2008). "Koala saved from Australia's wildfires doing well". The Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-02-12.
  7. ^ a b Gelineau, Kristen (11 February 2009). "Turtle's shell melts in Australia's fires". The Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  8. ^ "Say it for Sam the koala". Herald Sun. 11 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  9. ^ Megan McNaught and Sean Plambeck (12 February 2009). "Victoria fires koala image of Sam mocked by TMZ.com; Sam reunited with rescuer David Tree". The Australian. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  10. ^ "Our Apologies to Sam, Australia". TMZ.com. February 11, 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  11. ^ "Bushfire Aid: Artists for the Bushfire Appeal". bushfireaid.com.au. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
  12. ^ McNaught, Megan (18 February 2009). "Sam the Koala raises $300,000 for CFA". Herald Sun. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
  13. ^ Horan, Patrick (6 August 2009). "Sam the koala loses battle for survival after illness". Herald Sun. News Limited. Retrieved 2009-08-06. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); line feed character in |publisher= at position 6 (help)
  14. ^ Cuthbertson, Kathleen (8 August 2009). "Sam the Koala to be preserved like Phar Lap at Melbourne Museum". Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  15. ^ Magee, Antonia; Harris, Amelia (14 January 2010), "Dead bushfire Koala Sam stuffed for museum", The Herald Sun, retrieved 4 February 2010{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
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