Earlier this year, dozens of koalas were injured in devastating brushfires in Australia. Many of the tiny, helpless creatures' paws are burned in varying degrees. Following the brushfires, and in anticipation of possible upcoming ones in the new year, the International Fund for Animal Welfare asked for donations of simple cotton mittens to help the koalas' recovery.
The mittens not only reduce contact between the animal's skin and surfaces, but also help keep ointments and burn treatment creams on the affected areas.
Some of the koalas will need a year to recover from their injuries.
But helping the animals is an unlikely group of people: a group of 6th graders in Florida took on the task, and knitted dozens of the tiny cotton mittens.
Just earlier this year, we were introduced to Jeremy, one of the unfortunate victims of the Australian brushfires. Pictures of the koala were seen all over the Internet, as he struggled to recover from the burns on his paws. But when we last caught him, he was wearing the mittens, which undoubtedly reduced his chances of infection and irritation! Who knew that such a small piece of cloth to do so much for these creatures?
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