Touching Image of Australian Soldiers Providing a Helping Hand to Koalas

Australia continues to be plagued by a wave of deadly wildfires that have spread over millions of acres across the nation. These devastating fires have wreaked havoc, burning homes to the ground and severely impacting entire wildlife populations, including the beloved koalas.

Koalas are regarded as a symbol of Australia, but the recent fierce fires have claimed the lives of about 350,000 koalas. Unlike other animals, koalas are slow-moving and cannot quickly escape the advancing flames. While birds and other animals can fly or run away, the slow-moving koalas become disoriented amidst the blaze, often freezing or automatically climbing higher up trees, which in normal wildfires would be a smart move. However, the current fires are so intense that the flames reach even the highest treetops.

"A Great Moral Boost for Our Team"

Frantic citizens have not stopped photographing and filming rescued injured koalas from the burning forests. But one particularly touching image has recently gone viral. It shows a battalion of Australian soldiers cradling small koalas in their arms, feeding them. This is the 16th battalion of the Australian Army, tasked with rescuing and tending to koalas affected by the wildfires at Cleland Wildlife Park, located in the Adelaide Hills.

"A great moral boost for our team working hard in the Adelaide Hills," wrote the brigade commander alongside the moving photos posted on social media, showing soldiers bottle-feeding the frail koalas. "Meet the only soldiers in the Australian Army who are caring for koalas and helping them recover," it was stated.