Australian charity flooded with koala mittens after bushfire appeal
The charity was then inundated with thousands of cotton mittens for the injured koalas after the campaign went viral and say they were not expecting the success of the campaign:
"What started off as a local campaign, just asking the Australian public has just absolutely gone global and viral," Josey Sharrad from the IFAW told Australia's ABC News..
"We're now getting offers from as far afield as Russia, Kazakhstan, China, the UK and the US.
"It's truly phenomenal."
The bushfire that started on January 2 in Adelaide has burnt through more then 12,500 hectares of land, destroyed 27 homes and killed countless stock and wildlife. Koalas are particularly vulnerable to bushfires as they are slow-moving.
Now that they have more than enough mittens, the charity are appealing for sewers to make cotton pouches for joeys and wallabies who have been orphaned by the fires.
"There will be orphaned kangaroos and wallabies coming in and they need to be kept by wildlife rescuers in a very warm, pouch like environment," Ms Sharrad said.
And elsewhere, nine joeys who sustained burn injuries have been taken in by the Adelaide Zoo Animal Health Centre who say that they are recovering well:
"Vets are treating sores and blisters, removing dead skin and cleaning and dressing burns to feet, tails, claws and ears. The joeys have settled in well and are enjoying lots of treats like milk and vegetables on top of their normal diet of grass, while staff are enjoying lots of cuddles."
