When rescuers found Billy clinging to a scorched tree in the Adelaide Hills of Australia, the devastation of the wildfires surrounded him.
Exhausted and in pain, the koala let out a desperate cry as he was lifted to safety — then quickly curled into his carrier, as if he understood help had finally come.
Billy was taken in by Lucy and Adam Francis, volunteers with 1300Koalaz, a rescue group working tirelessly to save wildlife from the catastrophic fires that have displaced or killed nearly a billion animals.
Billy’s paws had been badly burned, leaving him unable to climb or move normally. After emergency treatment and careful bandaging at a vet, the couple brought him home to begin his long recovery.
Because Billy couldn’t use a standard koala enclosure, the Francises improvised.
They set him up in their kitchen on a camping mattress, propping him with a pillow so he could sit comfortably while they stayed close by.
Covered in soot and ash, clearly in shock, Billy seemed overwhelmed at first.
Despite his injuries, the couple soon realized Billy had one of the gentlest spirits they’d ever encountered. Instead of reacting defensively, he trusted them almost immediately.
“When Billy first came to us, he could have bitten my husband’s hand — but instead, he sniffed it and licked it gently,” Lucy recalled.
Gaining his trust became part of his care. The Francises spoke softly to him, stroked his fur during treatments, and reassured him while applying ointment to his burns or giving him vitamins.
Even when medicine was uncomfortable, Billy tolerated it with calm patience, sometimes holding their hands with his back paws as they worked.
“His personality is so gentle and calm, even when we have to rub cream into his blisters and burns, or administer his vitamin mixture — which we're really sure he hates — it's like giving a very furry, reluctant child their medicine,” Francis said.
“He holds our hands with his back paws when we apply cream to his coccyx burn.”
At first, Billy was so weak he struggled to feed himself, but his carers provided extra food and supplements to support his healing.
Slowly, he began regaining his strength — and his personality shone brighter each day. From a frightened, ash-covered koala, he has grown into a relaxed and affectionate companion, clearly relieved to finally feel safe.
It will take time before Billy is strong enough to return to the wild, but his rescuers know the day will come when he’s ready to climb a tall gum tree once again.
“We can’t wait to see him fully recover and release him,” Lucy said. “Though when that day comes, there will be a big Billy-shaped hole in our home — and in our hearts.”
If you’d like to support koalas like Billy, you can donate to 1300Koalaz. You can also help wildlife affected by Australia’s devastating fires by donating to WIRES, an emergency fund for injured and displaced animals.
