liresius | Sam and Bob Update (Reply)

Snippets of news ... mashed from NZ Herald AP and newser

Caretaker Lynn Raymond said Thursday, "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. They're good company for each other."

Neither koala is likely to be healthy enough for release for at least four months, and are being comforted by caretakers who salve their scorched paws every few hours.

Both Sam and Bob were given painkillers when they first arrived, but they're off the drugs now, Raymond said. The two are still receiving antibiotics and have their bandages changed regularly to stave off infections.

The koalas are likely to be in the shelter at least four months, depending on how quickly their burns heal, Raymond said. For now, though, the famously thirsty marsupial appears to be on the mend.

"I'm just looking at Sam now - she is fast asleep," Raymond said. "She's doing very, very well."

Sam and Tree were reunited at the shelter on Wednesday, a meeting that left the 44-year-old firefighter fighting back tears.

"When I saw her, I was just overwhelmed," Tree said Thursday. "I got a bit choked up, got a bit of a gut rise."

Tree was relieved to see his little friend doing so well, and plans to give her a cage that currently houses his 11-year-old daughter's canary. "We'll worry about the canary later," he said.

Ed. It would be a big cage!! I'm sure they wouldn't cramp her up in something tiny. I had a huge aviary for my 2 budgies when I was a kid. Just saying ...
Tree told the AP on Thursday the intensity of the media interest in the koala's rescue caught him completely by surprise, but he was concerned that it did not overshadow the tragedy of the lives and property lost in the blazes.

or you can watch it in better quality Here on news.com.au And just to take the focus from Sam and show that the awful hurt is not restricted to cute koalas, there's another vid interviewing a vet at work taking care of other burnt animals. Warning: It may distress some people, although it's nothing too graphic.

There's also a gallery of Sam and Bob pics here but I've posted the newer ones I haven't previously posted behind the cut.

Tree and Sam have a noserub