The bushfire that ravaged New South Wales and North-East Victoria way back in 2019 was one that went down in history because of the huge damage it has caused to the Australian wildlife, people, and properties.
Acres and acres of land were left completely empty after the raging fire finally burned out. It was a devastation that people will not soon forget.
During those moments that tested the courage of Australians, countless people from all walks of life gave their time and effort to help in the midst of the unprecedented crisis. Thousands of men and women helped in the evacuation of animals and people from their homes, aiding in making sure that there are survivors in this incredibly tragic catastrophe.
Among those people are the 3000 reserve soldiers from the 16th Regiment Emergency Support Force who were called upon to fight the raging flames. They were ready to lend a hand in the evacuation and they worked for hours without ever tiring and resting.
And when finally, they were given a moment to rest from all the tough tasks at hand, these men and women decided to give their rest day much more meaningful by taking care of koalas.
Yes, they knew they needed rest after the long hours of fighting the bushfire and helping out in bringing people and animals to safety, but these courageous soldiers wanted to continue their efforts in helping out even during their supposed moment of relaxation.
The soldiers proceeded to care for and nurse koalas so the animals can be strong enough to feed on their own.
The poor koalas lost their habitats and were under stress because of their sudden loss of natural home and food. The soldiers were quick to rescue them by being there to feed them and tend to animals’ injuries.
Photos of the soldiers as they fed the koalas were posted on the official Facebook page of the unit, where people saw their efforts and commended them for their willingness to go the extra mile when it comes to helping the animals in need. The photos quickly went viral.
The Facebook images show the troops helping out at Cleland Wildlife Park, where a number of koalas were brought in after the bushfire destroyed their natural habitat.
The post reads:
“16 Regiment Emergency Support Force have been using their rest periods to lend a helping hand at the Cleland Wildlife Park , supporting our furry friends during feeding time and by building climbing mounts inside the park. A great morale boost for our hard working team in the Adelaide Hills.”
Their efforts in helping in the wildlife park do not end there.
The soldiers also helped in making new building mounts in the park so that the animals would have something to climb on. These mounts are extremely important for koalas as they find trees as the perfect places for them to cool off and rest. These mounts will remind the animals of their natural homes and hopefully make it easier for them to live in the wildlife park.
“The most challenging part is reducing stress and pain,” Garnett Hall, the director, and also a vet at the West Coast Veterinary Hospital, told Bored Panda. “Many of these koalas have extensive burns, which would be incredibly painful. On top of that, they are scared, their homes have been destroyed, their friends are likely all dead, and they’ve been taken to a strange place for treatment. We do our best to give them appropriate pain relief and sedation, but cleaning and dressing their burns is still a difficult thing.”
Aside from the soldiers, veterinarians from the 9th brigade also joined in the mission to save and help the koalas survive. These vets visited the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park to aid the rescuers and park employees in caring for the wounded animals.
“It’s been really enjoyable to have private soldiers who were attached to the veteran team as drivers, but I actually have been using as veterinary assistants, and it’s been so helpful to have an extra set of hands to help hold animals and to let me treat their wounds. It’s been great and they’ve absolutely loved it,” Garnett Hall added.
It is such an amazing sight to see people going the extra mile when it comes to helping out both people and animals in need. This inspiring story is worth a read and we are rooting for the animals of Australia, especially the cute and adorable koalas, in their journey towards complete survival after the devastating fire.
The presence of these brave and kind soldiers has absolutely made a lot of positive impacts and we are proud of their amazing desire to serve.
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