Bushfires Koala dies in operation

AAP August 6, 2009, 2:48 pm

A koala made famous by a photograph of her drinking from a firefighter's water bottle as wildfires ravaged Australia has died during risky surgery.

"Sam" the koala suffered second- and third-degree burns to her paws in the February fires and had been recovering from her injuries at the Southern Ash Wildlife Shelter in Victoria state.

But shelter spokeswoman Peita Elkhorne said on Wednesday that Sam had developed abdominal cysts due to a disease called urogenital chlamydiosis, which affects up to 50 per cent of Australia's koala population. The disease can cause infertility, urinary tract infections and blindness and can be life-threatening.

Sam had surgery on Thursday and experts knew the prognosis for surviving the operation was not good.

"We're telling the public to brace for the worst-case scenario," Elkhorne said before the operation.

Elkhorne said Sam was "comfortable" but that a decision was made to try to remove the cysts because the disease can kill koalas.

In February, Sam was gingerly making her way on scorched paws past a fire patrol north of Melbourne when one of the firefighters spotted her. The firefighter was photographed holding a bottle of water to her lips.

Record temperatures, high winds and forests dried by years of drought set off infernos that swept a vast area of Victoria state, killing more than 170 people and destroying thousands of homes.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/5782032/bushfires-koala-dies-in-operation/

I think Bob and Sam make the perfect Valentine's Day couple! Through thick and thin, in sickness and in health...

I'm in love with them too. :)

You can see Sam's new boyfriend in the video clip I uploaded named With A Little Help From Friends. The picture of the two of them is soooo precious, Bob has his arm around Sam trying to help her. I'm actually truly in love with Bob & Sam, such a sweet couple. :)