Koala and joey recovering after being stranded by Australia bush fire
Officials worry this could be an extreme fire season for parts of Australia.
A mother koala and her joey, who were rescued from a devastating wildfire in Queensland, Australia are recovering at an animal rehabilitation centre.
Senior Sergeant Darren Ward of Jimboomba Police picked up the mother, who has since been named "Aisling" and her baby, "Rupert".
Ward told ABC that Aisling sustained minor burns.
“There was singeing to the fur, and singeing to the ears… but the baby seemed quite well protected,” he said.
Caretakers say both Aisling and Rupert are in "stable condition" but it can take several days to determine if there will be any smoke-inhalation impacts.
Several wildfires are currently burning in Australia, with authorities warning this season could be record-setting.
"We've never seen this before in recorded history, fire weather has never been as severe this early in spring," Andrew Sturgess, an inspector with the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, told Reuters.
Sturgess told the outlet the current conditions should serve as an "omen" or "warning" about what may transpire during the summer months of December, January, and February.
