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Sam (koala)
Encyclopedia
Sam also known as Sam the Koala, was a female koala
from the forests of Mirboo North, Victoria
, Australia
. She became publicly known when a video and photographs of her being rescued by a firefighter
were distributed on the internet and through the media during the aftermath of the Black Saturday bushfires.
, shows firefighter David Tree approaching Sam who initially attempts to flee but then stops—Tree later speculated that the koala had been thinking "I can't run, I'm weak and sore, put me out of my misery"—and Tree calls for water. Sam is then shown drinking from a bottle he is holding for her. She is also seen allowing herself to be patted, and holding her paw on his hand. Sam became a symbol of hope.
It was initially thought that Sam had been rescued by Tree following the February 2009 Victorian bushfires
; however, the event actually occurred in the week before the worst of the fires, during backburning
operations initiated by firefighters. Tree and his crew came across Sam when they were blacking out after the fires had gone through. The video was recorded by Tree and other firefighters; it had been intended for Tree's daughter.
where she was found to be suffering from second-degree burns to her paws and given painkillers. Caretakers at the shelter expected that it would take her about eight months to recover. Based on the condition of her teeth, the shelter manager estimated her to be between two and four years old. She was placed with a male koala named Bob, who had been rescued from another of the bushfire areas two days earlier and was suffering from third-degree burns.
and CNN
. Gossip site TMZ.com
mocked the rescue, calling Sam "pampered"; this drew significant reader backlash and attention. TMZ later apologised to Sam and to Australia as a whole.
Sam was euthanised
on 6 August 2009. The decision was made after exploratory surgery on her urinary bladder
and uterus
to evaluate the possible removal of cysts caused by urogenital chlamydiosis
. As her condition was inoperable the veterinarian stated that the decision was made to euthanise to prevent her suffering. Sam's remains were moved to Melbourne Museum
where they were preserved as a symbol of the bushfires.
and other charities through selling photographs of Sam's rescue.
In February 2009, an application was made to register the words "Sam the Koala" as a trademark for chocolates
and in August 2009 media reported a dispute.
On 27 July 2010 the DSE applied for a new trademark TM1374402, Sam The Koala, in Class32 (Beverages), Class33 (Alcoholic beverages), Class41 (Education, training and cultural activities), Class43 (Services for providing food and drink), and Class44 (Veterinary services and hygienic and beauty care for animals), however the DSE Application TM1374402 was issued an Adverse Report1 on 27 August 2010.
Koala
The koala is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia, and the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae....
from the forests of Mirboo North, Victoria
Mirboo North, Victoria
Mirboo North is a town in Victoria, Australia, located east of Melbourne, with a population of 2688. It is in the South Gippsland Shire local government area....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. She became publicly known when a video and photographs of her being rescued by a firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
were distributed on the internet and through the media during the aftermath of the Black Saturday bushfires.
Initial encounter
A mobile phone video of the event, which attracted just under 1,200,000 hits on YouTubeYouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, shows firefighter David Tree approaching Sam who initially attempts to flee but then stops—Tree later speculated that the koala had been thinking "I can't run, I'm weak and sore, put me out of my misery"—and Tree calls for water. Sam is then shown drinking from a bottle he is holding for her. She is also seen allowing herself to be patted, and holding her paw on his hand. Sam became a symbol of hope.
It was initially thought that Sam had been rescued by Tree following the February 2009 Victorian bushfires
February 2009 Victorian bushfires
The Black Saturday bushfires were a series of bushfires that ignited or were burning across the Australian state of Victoria on and around Saturday, 7 February 2009...
; however, the event actually occurred in the week before the worst of the fires, during backburning
Controlled burn
Controlled or prescribed burning, also known as hazard reduction burning or Swailing is a technique sometimes used in forest management, farming, prairie restoration or greenhouse gas abatement. Fire is a natural part of both forest and grassland ecology and controlled fire can be a tool for...
operations initiated by firefighters. Tree and his crew came across Sam when they were blacking out after the fires had gone through. The video was recorded by Tree and other firefighters; it had been intended for Tree's daughter.
Treatment
Sam was subsequently taken to the Southern Ash Wildlife Centre in RawsonRawson, Victoria
Rawson is a town in Victoria, Australia, located on Tyers - Thomson Valley Road, in the Shire of Baw Baw. The town was established for workers involved in the construction of the Thomson Dam, which was completed in 1983, Rawson Post Office opening on 17 April 1979....
where she was found to be suffering from second-degree burns to her paws and given painkillers. Caretakers at the shelter expected that it would take her about eight months to recover. Based on the condition of her teeth, the shelter manager estimated her to be between two and four years old. She was placed with a male koala named Bob, who had been rescued from another of the bushfire areas two days earlier and was suffering from third-degree burns.
Subsequent events
Sam's story was featured in media outlets worldwide, including The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
and CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
. Gossip site TMZ.com
TMZ.com
TMZ.com is a celebrity news website that debuted on November 8, 2005. It was a collaboration between America Online and Telepictures Productions, a division of Warner Bros., until Time Warner divested AOL in 2009. However, it is still affiliated with AOL News and has the AOL News logo affixed in...
mocked the rescue, calling Sam "pampered"; this drew significant reader backlash and attention. TMZ later apologised to Sam and to Australia as a whole.
Sam was euthanised
Animal euthanasia
Animal euthanasia is the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, an animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition. Euthanasia methods are designed to cause minimal pain and distress...
on 6 August 2009. The decision was made after exploratory surgery on her urinary bladder
Urinary bladder
The urinary bladder is the organ that collects urine excreted by the kidneys before disposal by urination. A hollow muscular, and distensible organ, the bladder sits on the pelvic floor...
and uterus
Uterus
The uterus or womb is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals including humans. One end, the cervix, opens into the vagina, while the other is connected to one or both fallopian tubes, depending on the species...
to evaluate the possible removal of cysts caused by urogenital chlamydiosis
Chlamydophila pecorum
Chlamydophila pecorum is a species of Chlamydiaceae that has been isolated only from mammals: cattle, sheep and goats , koalas , and swine. C. pecorum strains are serologically and pathogenically diverse....
. As her condition was inoperable the veterinarian stated that the decision was made to euthanise to prevent her suffering. Sam's remains were moved to Melbourne Museum
Melbourne Museum
Melbourne Museum is located in the Carlton Gardens in Melbourne, Australia, adjacent the Royal Exhibition Building.It is the largest museum in the Southern Hemisphere, and is a venue of Museum Victoria, which also operates the Immigration Museum and Scienceworks Museum.The museum has seven main...
where they were preserved as a symbol of the bushfires.
Related products
An image of Sam with David Tree was used as cover art on a fundraising CD, Bushfire Aid, to which 35 national and international artists donated songs. All proceeds were donated to the Salvation Army Bushfire Appeal. A total of A$300,000 was also raised for the Country Fire AuthorityCountry Fire Authority
Country Fire Authority, or CFA, is the name of the fire service that provides firefighting and other emergency services to all of the country areas and regional townships within the state of Victoria, Australia, as well as large portions of the outer suburban areas and growth corridors of Melbourne...
and other charities through selling photographs of Sam's rescue.
In February 2009, an application was made to register the words "Sam the Koala" as a trademark for chocolates
and in August 2009 media reported a dispute.
Trademark dispute
On 20 February 2009 and 13 March 2009, an application was made to register the words "Sam the Koala" as a trademark in Class 30 (for chocolates) and as a trademark in Class 16 (for colouring-in books). The applications were approved for Acceptance of Registration of a Trademark on 25 June 2009 and 16 July 2009 respectively. An Opposition Notice was lodged by DSE in September 2009 and that opposition outcome is still pending a final decision by IPAustralia. Media published the trademark applications which led to a dispute called an 'Opposition Notice'- IPAustralia History pageOn 27 July 2010 the DSE applied for a new trademark TM1374402, Sam The Koala, in Class32 (Beverages), Class33 (Alcoholic beverages), Class41 (Education, training and cultural activities), Class43 (Services for providing food and drink), and Class44 (Veterinary services and hygienic and beauty care for animals), however the DSE Application TM1374402 was issued an Adverse Report1 on 27 August 2010.