Le immagini del suo salvataggio dagli incendi di bosco australiani, stretto fra le braccia di una donna, avevano fatto il giro del mondo, ma la storia non ha un lieto fine: il koala Lewis non ce l'ha fatta ed è morto, soppresso dai veterinari della clinica che lo aveva in cura.
L'ospedale veterinario di Port Macquarie ne ha in cura una trentina
L'animale, di 14 anni, aveva significative bruciature al petto, agli arti e in altre parti del corpo. Malgrado gli sforzi, non dava segnali di ripresa.
L'ospedale di Port Macquarie aveva lanciato nelle scorse settimane una campagna per soccorrere la popolazione di marsupiali dalle fiamme che divorano il loro habitat nel New South Wales e nel Queensland, campagna che fino a pochi giorni fa aveva raccolto oltre 1 milione di dollari. Si calcola che i roghi abbiano ucciso almeno 350 esemplari. Quelli ustionati, ma soccorsi e curati sono una trentina.
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