Sam the Koala goes on view at Melbourne Museum
From today, visitors to Melbourne Museum will be able to see Sam the Koala, a powerful and internationally recognised symbol of the tragedy of Victoria’s bushfires.
Sam became the most famous koala in the world when images of her were seen by millions of people around the globe following Victoria’s devastating bushfires in February 2009.
“The images of Sam and her rescuers came to define the wonderful spirit of community and friendship that is now helping Victoria rebuild – and I commend the people who worked so hard to care for her,” said The Hon Lynne Kosky, Minister for the Arts.
“It is fitting that Sam will have a permanent home in the Melbourne Museum where children and families will be able to visit her and learn about her story.”
“For millions of people here in Australia and overseas, Sam the Koala represents the tragic impact of the summer 2009 bushfires on people’s lives,” said Dr J Patrick Greene, CEO, Museum Victoria.
“Sam became a symbol of the enormous loss felt by so many in the aftermath of last year’s terrible bushfires, and for this reason I believe it’s important that visitors from Victoria, across Australia and from overseas can see Sam and be reminded of her story and the events of Black Saturday.”
He added, “At the Museum, Sam will help visitors of all ages to reflect on events, such as natural disasters, that shape our lives.”
Sam’s public story started a week before Black Saturday when she was filmed drinking from a firefighter’s water bottle after being caught in a controlled back-burning operation. On February 6, Sam was located on Samson Road, Mirboo North, by Wildlife Rescue and Protection (WRAP) volunteers and taken to the Southern Ash Wildlife Shelter (SAWS), a shelter specialising in the treatment of burns. Sam was among more than 100 fire-injured koalas cared for at SAWS following the bushfires.
The publication of Sam’s image became headline news around the world, when she became a symbol of hope and resilience amidst the loss and trauma of Australia’s worst bushfires on record. Her story also involves the thousands of people in the community, many of them volunteers, who play a vital role in responding to bushfires and their aftermath.
Sam recovered from her burns but sadly was later euthanized due to Chlamydiosis, a disease which is widespread in koalas and is exacerbated by loss of habitat. Sam’s display at Melbourne Museum will help educate visitors about how environmental change – including climate change – is affecting Australia’s native flora and fauna, particularly through drought and bushfire.
Visitors to Melbourne Museum can see Sam the Koala in the main foyer of Melbourne Museum. Admission to the main foyer is free. In late March Sam will move to the Victorian environment section of Wild: Amazing animals in a changing world, the Museum’s latest exhibition. Sam will be part of a display teaching visitors about biodiversity and issues such as climate change and population growth.
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Sam the Koala goes on view at Melbourne Museum
From today, visitors to Melbourne Museum will be able to see Sam the Koala, a powerful and internationally recognised symbol of the tragedy of Victoria’s bushfires.
Sam became the most famous koala in the world when images of her were seen by millions of people around the globe following Victoria’s devastating bushfires in February 2009.
“The images of Sam and her rescuers came to define the wonderful spirit of community and friendship that is now helping Victoria rebuild – and I commend the people who worked so hard to care for her,” said The Hon Lynne Kosky, Minister for the Arts.
“It is fitting that Sam will have a permanent home in the Melbourne Museum where children and families will be able to visit her and learn about her story.”
“For millions of people here in Australia and overseas, Sam the Koala represents the tragic impact of the summer 2009 bushfires on people’s lives,” said Dr J Patrick Greene, CEO, Museum Victoria.
“Sam became a symbol of the enormous loss felt by so many in the aftermath of last year’s terrible bushfires, and for this reason I believe it’s important that visitors from Victoria, across Australia and from overseas can see Sam and be reminded of her story and the events of Black Saturday.”
He added, “At the Museum, Sam will help visitors of all ages to reflect on events, such as natural disasters, that shape our lives.”
Sam’s public story started a week before Black Saturday when she was filmed drinking from a firefighter’s water bottle after being caught in a controlled back-burning operation. On February 6, Sam was located on Samson Road, Mirboo North, by Wildlife Rescue and Protection (WRAP) volunteers and taken to the Southern Ash Wildlife Shelter (SAWS), a shelter specialising in the treatment of burns. Sam was among more than 100 fire-injured koalas cared for at SAWS following the bushfires.
The publication of Sam’s image became headline news around the world, when she became a symbol of hope and resilience amidst the loss and trauma of Australia’s worst bushfires on record. Her story also involves the thousands of people in the community, many of them volunteers, who play a vital role in responding to bushfires and their aftermath.
Sam recovered from her burns but sadly was later euthanized due to Chlamydiosis, a disease which is widespread in koalas and is exacerbated by loss of habitat. Sam’s display at Melbourne Museum will help educate visitors about how environmental change – including climate change – is affecting Australia’s native flora and fauna, particularly through drought and bushfire.
Visitors to Melbourne Museum can see Sam the Koala in the main foyer of Melbourne Museum. Admission to the main foyer is free. In late March Sam will move to the Victorian environment section of Wild: Amazing animals in a changing world, the Museum’s latest exhibition. Sam will be part of a display teaching visitors about biodiversity and issues such as climate change and population growth.
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