A call to help make mittens for koalas injured in recent bushfires in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales has received an overwhelming response, with organisers now asking donors to make joey pouches instead.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) put out the call last week for people to sew the cotton mittens, which are used to protect the animals’ burnt paws.
Since then, thousands of mittens have been sent from as far as the United Kingdom, America and Russia.
With thousands of mittens received, at this point IFAW will not need anymore.
For sewers who are still keen to help, the group has asked for pouches for other wildlife affected by the fires.
“There will be orphaned kangaroos and wallabies coming in and they need to be kept by wildlife rescuers in a very warm, pouch like environment,” Ms Sharrad said.
The deadly fires that have devastated the nation’s southern states have been compared to the deadly Ash Wednesday fires that tore through South Australia and Victoria over 20 years ago.
Wreaking devastation across farms and bushland, countless numbers of wild animals and livestock were killed.
The exact number of wildlife killed and injured in the bushfires may not be known for weeks.
Through all this though,the mittens for koalas project has been a beacon of hope in a dark time.
IFAW posted this adorable photo to their Facebook page.
Josey Sharrad from the International Fund for Animal Welfare said the response was astonishing.
“What started off as a local campaign, just asking the Australian public has just absolutely gone global and viral,” Ms Sharrad said.
“We’re now getting offers from as far afield as Russia, Kazakhstan, China, the UK and the US.
“It’s truly phenomenal.”
IFAW were overwhelmed with the amount of mittens received.
“It was absolutely overwhelming, we could not have planned for this and we are so touched by the kind heartedness of people all around the world,” Ms Sharrad said.
“Luckily we have a big stock room and we will keep them here and send them out to people all around the country as and when they’re needed.”
If you want to help out, visit the IFAW website HERE to download the pattern and get sewing!
Find out more here: www.ifaw.org/australia
