Update:
While it was touch and go for a while with Amelia Fritz, she is now doing very well. Amelia is off her drip and only has one claw left bandaged.

Amelia Fritz clings tightly to her teddy. It's a small consolation for one who has lost so much at such a young age. But with the tender love and care of Sanctuary staff and wildlife carers, Amelia has a fighting chance.

Amelia was brought to the Healesville Sanctuary tired, hungry, dehydrated and traumatised after fires ravaged her habitat near Alexandra. Two staff from the Sanctuary negotiated road blocks and detours under the guidance of authorities to rescue Amelia and three other koalas. They had been taken in by wildlife triage points - make-shift clinics set up by the community to do all they can to help wildlife injured in the fires. These triage points are often staffed by people who themselves experienced their own losses in the fires.

Amelia is now being treated for dehydration and burns to her feet. Every 48 hours the veterinary team from the Australian Wildlife Health Centre change Amelia's bandages and clean her wounds with saline. This process takes almost an hour. She is now in the safe guardianship of wildlife carer Liz, who is also looking after another three koalas in her Healesville home.

With its lean, muscular body and strong limbs, Koalas like Amelia are well suited to life in the trees. Front and hind legs are almost equal in length, with five-digit paws specially adapted for grip. Rough pads on the palms and soles and long claws on each digit help her grip tree branches and trunks. These are essential for climbing and injuries to claws can hinder their survival. On each front paw, two fingers act like thumbs to enable a tighter grip.

Victoria has the highest population of koalas in the wild in Australia (and the world).

Amelia has been given the last name of Fritz in honour of the brave policeman who rescued her.

Please donate to the Australian Wildlife Health Centre Bushfire Appeal