I know many native animals perished in the Victorian bushfires earlier this year but there is something particularly endearing about koalas. Perhaps it is their human like face – eyes facing to the front, ears at the sides and prominent noses. That is one of the reasons why Sam, the koala rescued from the blackened scrub, managed to warm the hearts of a nation. Sam has since died but I am certain that her carers would have ensured there was no suffering.

I’m hoping that this year brings milder summer weather for the southern regions of Australia which were so devastated by the bushfires. But it is heartening to know that even in the face of that kind of destruction, nature always fights back. It’s hard to believe the photo below was taken only one month after bushfires swept through Kinglake VIC.

Shortly after we returned from Tasmania last year, my other half told me about an adoption program running through the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital. Unlike a lot of other zoos running similar programs, the koalas up for adoption at Port Macquarie are all wild koalas in need of veterinary care after car accidents, dog attacks or bouts of chlamydia.

They are a charitable organisation and rely on the support of the public in the form of donations or adoptions to keep their hospital running. We have already adopted one koala, Warrego Martin, in January this year. I am planning on adopting a couple more this month, particularly with the ongoing bushfires in Victoria.

For more information on adopting a wild koala ($40 within Australia or $50 from Overseas) or making a once off donation through Pay Pal, please see the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital webpage for more information.