Koala-fied celebrity: How Triumph became the most famous koala in the world

Triumph was the first ever koala to receive a prosthetic limb.

less than 2 min read

July 28, 2021 - 10:51AM

Lismore Northern Star

LISMORE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 24: Triumph the koala sits in his enclosure with his new prosthetic limb attached to his right foot on February 24, 2021 in Lismore, Australia. Triumph the koala was taken into care in 2017 after being found with his dying mother on a property in Lismore in northern New South Wales. Vets soon discovered Triumph's missing foot, a birth defect that affected his ability to move and sometimes caused him pain. After a long search by Triumph's carers at Friends of the Koala for someone who could successfully make a prosthetic koala foot, the solution came from a local prosthetic dentist in Lismore, Jon Doulman, who took a cast of Triumph's stump and created a prosthetic boot-like attachment made from rubber and attached with velcro. The five-year-old koala was recently fitted with his new foot, and immediately began grooming, climbing and crawling with the prosthetic in place. (Photo by James D. Morgan/Getty Images)

1/8LISMORE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 24: Triumph the koala sits in his enclosure with his new prosthetic limb attached to his right foot on February 24, 2021 in Lismore, Australia. Triumph the koala was taken into care in 2017 after being found with his dying mother on a property in Lismore in northern New South Wales. Vets soon discovered Triumph's missing foot, a birth defect that affected his ability to move and sometimes caused him pain. After a long search by Triumph's carers at Friends of the Koala for someone who could successfully make a prosthetic koala foot, the solution came from a local prosthetic dentist in Lismore, Jon Doulman, who took a cast of Triumph's stump and created a prosthetic boot-like attachment made from rubber and attached with velcro. The five-year-old koala was recently fitted with his new foot, and immediately began grooming, climbing and crawling with the prosthetic in place. (Photo by James D. Morgan/Getty Images)

LISMORE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 24: Triumph the koala sits in the arms of vet nurse Marley Christian with his prosthetic limb attached to his right foot at Friends of the Koala on February 24, 2021 in Lismore, Australia. Triumph the koala was taken into care in 2017 after being found with his dying mother on a property in Lismore in northern New South Wales. Vets soon discovered Triumph's missing foot, a birth defect that affected his ability to move and sometimes caused him pain. After a long search by Triumph's carers at Friends of the Koala for someone who could successfully make a prosthetic koala foot, the solution came from a local prosthetic dentist in Lismore, Jon Doulman, who took a cast of Triumph's stump and created a prosthetic boot-like attachment made from rubber and attached with velcro. The five-year-old koala was recently fitted with his new foot, and immediately began grooming, climbing and crawling with the prosthetic in place. (Photo by James D. Morgan/Getty Images)

2/8LISMORE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 24: Triumph the koala sits in the arms of vet nurse Marley Christian with his prosthetic limb attached to his right foot at Friends of the Koala on February 24, 2021 in Lismore, Australia. Triumph the koala was taken into care in 2017 after being found with his dying mother on a property in Lismore in northern New South Wales. Vets soon discovered Triumph's missing foot, a birth defect that affected his ability to move and sometimes caused him pain. After a long search by Triumph's carers at Friends of the Koala for someone who could successfully make a prosthetic koala foot, the solution came from a local prosthetic dentist in Lismore, Jon Doulman, who took a cast of Triumph's stump and created a prosthetic boot-like attachment made from rubber and attached with velcro. The five-year-old koala was recently fitted with his new foot, and immediately began grooming, climbing and crawling with the prosthetic in place. (Photo by James D. Morgan/Getty Images)