Fire toll rises but little hero is ok

She captured hearts around the world by protecting her baby from devastating bushfires now the good news is finally in.

She’s one of the bravest little fire heroes around and the good news is that Ashleigh (Mum) and joey (Rupert) are in the home straight for being released.

While it was touch and go, the little koala Mum, whose photo went viral in September cradling her baby in the bushfire ravaged Gold Coast hinterland, is now with a carer and doing fine.

“At first it didn’t look as though Mum would make it but both are now with a carer waiting for release,” RSPCA Queensland spokesman Mr Beatty said.

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HEARTBREAKING: A badly burnt koala mum has been found laying protectively on top of her joey in the fire zone. The pair are now being taken care of by the RSPCA

Posted by Courier Mail on Friday, 6 September 2019

The stoic koala was found cradling her baby as bushfires raged across the Gold Coast Hinterland and was rescued by two police officers.

Cared for by staff at the RSPCA Wildlife Hospital in Wacol, Mr Beatty said “it was touch and go” with Ashleigh who was “in a bad way and not eating”.

“She had burns and was severely dehydrated,” he said.

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Intensive care at the Wildlife Hospital has ensured she is now on the path to recovery.

Mr Beatty said about thirty animals had come to Wacol following the September fires.

“The problem is the fires are so quick that possums, wombats and koala often cannot escape,” he said.

“If anyone sees an animal in distress they can call 1300 ANIMAL and we’ll endeavour to get the nearest carer to them or one of our ambulances.”

She’s one of the bravest Mum’s around. Ashleigh saved her baby Rupert from the devastating fires. Photo. RSPCA.