The world was saddened by the news of the passing of Lewis, the koala, who succumbed to his injuries in Port Macquarie hospital last Tuesday.
Lewis gained worldwide attention after a video went viral showing an Australian woman saving him from a devastating bushfire in Australia.
On the day of his rescue, Lewis was swiftly taken to a specialized hospital in Port Macquarie where he received intensive care.
Unfortunately, despite the veterinarians’ efforts, Lewis’ severe burns could not be healed, leading to the difficult decision to euthanize him to end his suffering.
Regrettably, Lewis is not the sole victim of the destructive fires in Australia. Numerous burned and injured koalas are currently receiving treatment at animal hospitals. The Port Macquarie hospital alone is caring for about 31 koalas, including Peter and Paul.
Koala Peter, rescued from the fires in Lake Innes Nature Reserve, is expected to recover well according to hospital staff who mentioned on their Facebook page that “He eats well and his burns are healing.”
Koala Paul, the first to be rescued from the nature reserve, was found crawling on scorched ground, with all four paws severely burned and suffering from dehydration. Veterinarians are optimistic that Paul’s burns will heal, wrapping his paws in bandages.
At Port Stephens Koala Center, Blaze is recovering after surviving the intense flames. Despite missing a piece of his ear and sustaining severe burns on various body parts, including his hands, feet, testicles, nose, and chin, Blaze is receiving treatment three times a day.
Since the fires ravaged Australia in November, approximately 1000 koalas have perished, with nearly 80% of their natural habitat destroyed.
The video featuring Lewis was instrumental in a fundraising campaign, which has raised over a hundred million dollars for the cause, as reported by the Newcastle Herald.
Let’s hope for the full recovery of these resilient koalas and for the safety of all koalas in the Australian wilderness from the ongoing fires.
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