(CNN) - In good news, several koalas injured in bush fires in Australia in 2019 were released into the wild.
One of the group's most famous is Anwen, a woman whose photos went viral due to the severity of her burns - they covered 90% of her body.
She was the third patient admitted to Port Macquarie Koala Hospital in October 2019.
Now, however, she has joined several other koalas that have been resettled in the Lake Innes nature reserve in New South Wales, which is on the Tasman Sea coast, some 235 km north of Newcastle.
Anwen is one of 26 koalas to return to their habitat over the course of a week. Hospital workers have carefully examined a mix of ages and genders of koala to create a well-balanced community - especially since they hope the animals will breed and increase their population in the wild.
But it was not only the koalas who had to rest and heal. Although the Innes Lake area was severely damaged by the fires, higher than expected amounts of precipitation allowed the animals to be released sooner than expected.
"As we all go through difficult and uncertain times, this incredible story of hope reminds us of the resilience of our incredible flora and fauna and our people," said Phillipa Harrison, Managing Director of Tourism Australia, in a statement.
Tourists are not traveling to Australia at this time, but there are still ways to support koalas from their home, namely the adopt-a-koala hospital online program.
Tourism Australia has also set up an online portal containing virtual tours, custom Zoom backgrounds and a vacation planner.
Koala hospital, Cnr Roto Place & Lord St, Port Macquarie, NSW 2444, Australia, +61 02 6584 1522
