How a mum’s love saved one lucky joey from fires
Millions of wild animals have died in the horrifying bushfire crisis that has devastated East Gippsland but little Tippy the koala and her eight-month-old joey, Jellybean, are among the few lucky ones.
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Tippy and her eight-month-old joey, Jellybean, are among the lucky ones.
The pair were rescued from Gelantipy, in fire-ravaged East Gippsland, on Thursday.
Unlike millions of other wild animals, the pair managed to survive days after their habitat was destroyed.
Tippy suffered second degree burns to a hind leg as well as smoke inhalation and dehydration. Remarkable, little Jellybean seems to have been almost completely unaffected.
Dr Meg Curnick from Zoos Victoria said it was likely Jellybean sheltered from the conditions by hiding beneath his mum or latching on to her front.
Sadly the pair are among the few rescued koalas that have survived the East Gippsland bushfire disaster.
Dr Curnick worried for the future of the population.
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“These fires have very much been destructive,” she said. “When koalas are afraid, they tend to climb higher and often it’s the top of trees that burn.”
On Friday the pair were being treated at the RSPCA mobile unit in Bairnsdale.
Tippy was given a “blended gum milkshake” filled with vitamins to help her regain her strength.
Tippy and Jellybean will continue to be treated at Healesville Sanctuary.