For months, people and animals in Australia have been suffering from bushfires that have gotten out of control. The photo of a burnt young kangaroo has become a symbol of horror - but in the midst of the catastrophe there are moments that can mean a small ray of hope.
This probably also includes the story of Damian Campbell-Davys, who saved a young koala. The driver of a water tanker found the animal near the city of Nerriga in the state of New South Wales, which was particularly affected by the fire, the newspaper "Sydney Morning Herald" reported.
The koala staggered out of a row of pine trees, the report said. Campbell-Davys, whose job it was to fill the tanks of the fire engines with water, suddenly had another occupation: he had supplied the disoriented and thirsty animal with water from his bottle for over an hour and a half.
"After yesterday's horrors, it just made me happy," said Damian Campbell-Davys. He temporarily took the animal into his cab, as shown by photos the man posted on Facebook. It was "a little ray of sunshine in this nightmare". However, the community of the two was not permanent: gamekeepers were to take the koala named Tinny Ass out of the danger zone.
In New South Wales alone, it has been estimated that around half a billion animals have been killed in the flames. Thousands of Australians have now had to get to safety from cities in the southeast of the country. At least 24 people died. Prime Minister Scott Morrison's criticism of the government's crisis management is growing.