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Australian Army Soldiers Spend Their Rest Time Caring For Koalas Affected By The Bushfires
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Australian Army Soldiers Spend Their Rest Time Caring For Koalas Affected By The Bushfires

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Even though bushfires continue to ravage New South Wales and North-East Victoria, they are now at a much lesser capacity than they were a month ago.

Countless Australians have been giving their all in the last several months to put a stop to the raging fires, whether it was going to the firefront to push away the incoming flames, or joining in the humanitarian aid and relief efforts for both people and animals in need.

Recently, Scott Morrison, Australia’s Prime Minister, has called up 3,000 reserve soldiers to help with the firefighting and evacuation operations in Eastern Australia. Like many others, they have been working tirelessly for days and some even weeks.

This photo of the 16th Regiment Emergency Support Force helping koalas has been going viral recently

Image credits: 9th Brigade, Australian Army

However, despite receiving well-deserved rest time between shifts, many soldiers surprisingly chose to trade in their off-time to continue helping the country recover from the bushfires. The 16th Regiment Emergency Support Force has been recently going viral after a handful of photos of them cuddling and feeding koalas was posted on their unit’s Facebook page.

Bored Panda got in touch with Captain Garnett Hall, an Australian Army Vet who has been recently deployed in Kangaroo Island, where he and members of the 9th Brigade were tasked to assist the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park with the large number of injured wildlife at the park coming in.

Garnett Hall is the Director and Veterinarian at the West Coast Veterinary Hospital in Perth, Australia. He became a vet because he always enjoyed science and medicine. Having grown up with a lot of animals—dogs, cats, chickens, guinea pigs, turtles, turkeys, rats, and lizards—he knew he wanted to be either a vet or a human doctor.

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These soldiers traded in their rest time to help the Cleland Wildlife Park care for displaced koalas

Image credits: 9th Brigade, Australian Army

In one of the viral pictures, a handful of soldiers is seen holding displaced koalas wrapped in blankets at the Cleland Wildlife Park, providing comfort to them during feeding time. Needless to say, it’s an adorable sight to see. The post read: “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.”

“I think Australia’s native animals, such as koalas, have suffered the most from the bushfires,” explained Hall. “When threatened, their instincts are to climb trees. However, when faced with a fire, this response leads to tragedy. The koalas cannot outrun those flames and, as a result, most that were in the fire-affected areas have died. Some have survived, but they have horrible burns on their hands, feet, and faces.”

The troops were also tasked with building mounts for koalas to climb on in the new park grounds

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Image credits: 9th Brigade, Australian Army

The troops of the 16th Regiment were also tasked with preparing new onsite grounds for the koalas to roam in. This included building special mounts for the koalas, facilitating their climb to the trees where they naturally hide from predators and cool off during hot days.

We asked Garnett Hall what is the most challenging part of taking care of rescued koalas. He had this to say: “The most challenging part is reducing stress and pain. 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.”

The 9th Brigade also sent their vets to Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park to help treat wounded wildlife. In a video posted on the Australian Army’s YouTube channel, Captain Garnett Hall explains that it is a very grim picture as numerous wildlife are affected by the fires, mostly koalas. They are being treated for burns on their paws and faces, many also have singed fur.

The Facebook post went viral, garnering over 24,000 reactions with 43,000 shares in just a couple days

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Image credits: 9th Brigade, Australian Army

“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,” explained Captain Garnett Hall in the video.

Since then, the Facebook post went viral, garnering over 24,000 reactions with 43,000 shares in just a couple of days.

We’ve asked Garnett Hall what is one thing he wishes people knew more about koalas, to which he answered: “Koalas are amazing and interesting animals. Like many other Australian mammals, they have pouches, in which they carry their babies until they are big enough to venture out on their own. I’d like to encourage everyone to visit Australia and see these wonderful animals themselves.”

The Australian Army also sent soldiers to help on Kangaroo Island

Image credits: Australian Army

Have any feel-good stories coming in from the Australian wildfires? Why not share them in the comments below!

The internet loved it & expressed their gratitude to the soldiers…

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aftereight1234 avatar
Clavelle
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thst pic with them all lined up feeding the swaddled koalas melts my heart! I am SO appreciative for them and all of the people involved in caring for these animals.

mrshoudini avatar
Lilith Hollis
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Joey being fed by the soldier at the end of the video to look of trust in his eyes and the joy the soldier felt when it grabbed the bottle with its little hands had me in floods of tears

monika-soffronow avatar
Monika Soffronow
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is what every army should be used for. To help where help is needed.

lsoo avatar
Raine Soo
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To the soldiers of the Australian Army, an appreciative and heartfelt thank you from Canada. Good on you, mates.

redsongamble avatar
TheExtremeSmell
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was affected by the bushfires. Not physically but mentally. Can they hold me?

d8888893 avatar
An Opinion
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Imagine a world where army personnel never had to go into combat, instead they help out with stuff like this.

frances_portokalaki avatar
Frances Portokalaki
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Heartbreaking the damage to these pressure animals. Inspiring work by army veterans.

myrag avatar
Myra Groenewegen
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If I could join an army that did community projects and never violent combat stuff, I would, but of course, then it wouldn't be an army. From hard labour to touchingly gentle stuff like this it can be the best institution, when it isn't at war being the worst. What I really want is a monastery with all that organization and money behind it, that also allows nuns to marry and bring in their spouses . . . A commune? I dunno. I just want to have a power structure train me and give me appropriate, constructive community work to do and fill my basic needs and save me from the useless pedeling around that happens in job search. Take care of me and I will take care of my community, as you see fit.

sharronlparsons avatar
sharron lynn parsons
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wonderful to see more help with the animals, those people are heroes it's nice to be with the koalas but also difficult to see first hand the painful burns, if I were there to help, looking at the koalas in their pain, I would cry, so not easy for the helpers, Bless all !!!

bronmargaret avatar
Magpie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-29/bushfire-smoke-could-alter-respiratory-health-for-generations/11892520

meyerweinstock avatar
Meyer Weinstock
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The American army would probably be trying to barbecue these creatures, not save them.

thisroughmag avatar
Alice Teasdale
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

From on the ground... half Kangaroo Island burned... the wonderful guys from 3/9 Light Horse also cleaned up burned sheds, moved dead animals, rolled up burned fences, and a hundred more amazing things to fast track recovery. Please be aware when donating that at this point donations to wildlife are necessary and generous, but PEOPLE are actually receiving LESS donations at this point and they have a marathon in front of them to recover and rebuild. If you have money to donate spread it around a bit

captaindash avatar
Full Name
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not surprised they'd choose this over rest. This would calm you right down and heal your heart a little. I bet it would be so cathartic.

teresacline avatar
Cold Contagious
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's so wonderful for these hard working people to put in extra duty to take care of the animals. So honorable of them and humbling to to witness. In regards to working with the animals, it's said that, if you love what you do you will never work a day in your life. Peace, strength, and love to Australia.

aftereight1234 avatar
Clavelle
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thst pic with them all lined up feeding the swaddled koalas melts my heart! I am SO appreciative for them and all of the people involved in caring for these animals.

mrshoudini avatar
Lilith Hollis
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Joey being fed by the soldier at the end of the video to look of trust in his eyes and the joy the soldier felt when it grabbed the bottle with its little hands had me in floods of tears

monika-soffronow avatar
Monika Soffronow
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is what every army should be used for. To help where help is needed.

lsoo avatar
Raine Soo
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To the soldiers of the Australian Army, an appreciative and heartfelt thank you from Canada. Good on you, mates.

redsongamble avatar
TheExtremeSmell
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was affected by the bushfires. Not physically but mentally. Can they hold me?

d8888893 avatar
An Opinion
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Imagine a world where army personnel never had to go into combat, instead they help out with stuff like this.

frances_portokalaki avatar
Frances Portokalaki
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Heartbreaking the damage to these pressure animals. Inspiring work by army veterans.

myrag avatar
Myra Groenewegen
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If I could join an army that did community projects and never violent combat stuff, I would, but of course, then it wouldn't be an army. From hard labour to touchingly gentle stuff like this it can be the best institution, when it isn't at war being the worst. What I really want is a monastery with all that organization and money behind it, that also allows nuns to marry and bring in their spouses . . . A commune? I dunno. I just want to have a power structure train me and give me appropriate, constructive community work to do and fill my basic needs and save me from the useless pedeling around that happens in job search. Take care of me and I will take care of my community, as you see fit.

sharronlparsons avatar
sharron lynn parsons
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wonderful to see more help with the animals, those people are heroes it's nice to be with the koalas but also difficult to see first hand the painful burns, if I were there to help, looking at the koalas in their pain, I would cry, so not easy for the helpers, Bless all !!!

bronmargaret avatar
Magpie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-29/bushfire-smoke-could-alter-respiratory-health-for-generations/11892520

meyerweinstock avatar
Meyer Weinstock
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The American army would probably be trying to barbecue these creatures, not save them.

thisroughmag avatar
Alice Teasdale
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

From on the ground... half Kangaroo Island burned... the wonderful guys from 3/9 Light Horse also cleaned up burned sheds, moved dead animals, rolled up burned fences, and a hundred more amazing things to fast track recovery. Please be aware when donating that at this point donations to wildlife are necessary and generous, but PEOPLE are actually receiving LESS donations at this point and they have a marathon in front of them to recover and rebuild. If you have money to donate spread it around a bit

captaindash avatar
Full Name
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not surprised they'd choose this over rest. This would calm you right down and heal your heart a little. I bet it would be so cathartic.

teresacline avatar
Cold Contagious
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's so wonderful for these hard working people to put in extra duty to take care of the animals. So honorable of them and humbling to to witness. In regards to working with the animals, it's said that, if you love what you do you will never work a day in your life. Peace, strength, and love to Australia.

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