Vic: Sam the koala to be stuffed and displayed in museum

AAP General News (Australia)
08-08-2009
Vic: Sam the koala to be stuffed and displayed in museum

Australia's most loved koala will be stuffed and displayed in the Melbourne Museum
following her death during surgery on Thursday.

The image of SAM the koala holding hands with firefighter DAVID TREE .. and sipping
from his water bottle in the aftermath of Black Saturday .. was beamed around the world
as a symbol of hope in the days following the disaster.

SAM'S bushfire injuries had healed .. but she was struck by the debilitating disease
chlamydia .. rife among koalas.

News Limited newspapers quote Premier JOHN BRUMBY as saying SAM'S carers have accepted
the museum's offer to preserve and display her .. as a symbol of the people and communities
affected by the fires .. and the courage and kindness of the firefighters and volunteers.

AAP RTV ees/rt

KEYWORD: KOALA (MELBOURNE)

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