The moment Sam was found and rescued.
Last August we broke the devastating news that Sam the Koala, who discovered international fame after being rescued from the ‘Black Saturday’ bushfires in Victoria, had sadly died of Chlamydia.
Sam had become a symbol of hope for Australia after being plucked from her burnt surroundings by fireman David Tree. Images of her drinking from his water bottle were transmitted around the world.
She had badly burnt paws and was taken to a wildlife sanctuary where she was making a good recovery until it was discovered she had the deadly disease. Sam died in August after vets at the sanctuary decided it was time to put her to sleep.
Now Sam is set to become a permanent icon after being installed in Melbourne Museum. Visitors to the museum can see Sam, with bandages still wrapped around her burnt paws, in the exhibit that sees her perched on a gum tree.
Sam will initially be placed in the foyer of the museum along with video clips of Sam’s rescue and recovery – she will then go to her permanent home in the museum’s ‘Amazing animals in a changing world’ exhibition.
Museum officials say that it gives people a chance to pay their respects to the little marsupial who was the symbol of so much hope after the catastrophic fires in February of last year.
The fireman who rescued Sam lent his support to the exhibit. “I think this will give people the chance to get up close and personal with what happened, “ he says. “It just shows you not only do humans suffer in bushfires, but so do our native wildlife.”
Dr Patrick Greene, chief executive at the museum said he expected that Sam would be a very popular exhibit with both national and international visitors. “I believe Sam will be seen and shared by generations who have been touched by her story,”
What do you think? Will the preservation of Sam in such an exhibit prove to be a fitting tribute to the plucky koala? Or are you against the stuffing of such animals for visitors to gawp at? Let us know your opinions in the comments box below.
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