A young koala climbs up a eucalyptus (桉树) tree. But it's not trying to eat one of the tasty leaves it loves—it's trying to get away from the flames and smoke in the forest under it.
In 2019-2020, a large number of wildfires happened in Australia, destroying many of the trees koalas live in and feed on. Reports show that more than 25, 000 koalas might have been killed in these fires, as well as hundreds of millions of other animals.
After the wildfires, Koalas face many other dangers. Starvation (饥饿), dog attacks, car accidents and diseases also put them in danger. Luckily, brave people step up every day to help them.
After a big fire, a koala in Queensland carefully climbs down a eucalyptus tree towards the ground. But the lower part of the tree is till hot after fire, and she burns her paws. Luckily she is discovered by wildlife rescue organization Wildcare Australia, who've sent a team to find animals injured in the bushfire. They saw and saved the koala—now named Maddie—and sent her to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital.
Maddie also has burns on her nose and ears, so her caregivers put a cooling ointment (药膏) on her injuries. She's hungry, too. When a koala's in pain, it won't eat. Less than a week later, Maddie is ready for a meal. But as there are hundreds of different types of eucalyptus leaves, they must choose her meal carefully. Koalas all have their favourite. Leaves that they're not used to eating are harder for them to digest (消化), or just taste terrible. But Maddie finishes off all the leaves she's been given.
The cute koala is still at the hospital, but it won't be long before she's taking naps (打盹) in a forest instead of a hospital.
