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Australia Injured Koala Fundraising Sets Charity Record

Phil Mercer

   SYDNEY - An online site raising money to help koalas displaced and
   injured in Australia's bushfire crisis has become one of the country's
   most successful charity campaigns.

   An animal hospital in New South Wales set up the GoFundMe online
   campaign with a target of $17,000 to buy automatic drinking stations
   for distressed koalas.

   It has, though, raised more than $1.2 million.

   Donations have come from around the world, including the U.S, Britain,
   New Zealand and Germany.

   Much of the interest in the facility at Port Macquarie, north of
   Sydney, came after the dramatic rescue of a koala from charred bushland
   was captured on video.

   The marsupial, who was later called Lewis, was picked up by a
   grandmother, who ran through the flames to rescue the badly burned
   marsupial.

   Lewis was treated for his wounds, but they were so severe he could not
   be saved.

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