Volunteers Are Making Mittens for Injured Koalas

The International Fund for Animal Welfare announced Wednesday that it is taking action to help koalas injured by the catastrophic bush fires in South Australia and Victoria.

Many of the slow-moving animals have suffered burns on their paws while trying to escape burning trees.

Once rescued, koalas are very docile and will sit quietly while they are treated. However, local vets and wildlife rehabilitators need volunteers to make cotton mittens that will keep the burn cream and bandages in place for the injured joeys.

It can take up to a year for the koalas’ burned paws to heal, so there’s a demand for hundreds of pairs for each of the surviving animals.

“Some people are making up to 100 mittens,” Josey Sharrad of the IFAW told TODAY.com. “It’s fantastic. We didn’t expect this response. We’ve been inundated, and it’s been brilliant.”

Volunteers are using a diagram with a specific pattern to make mittens from clean 100% cotton, such as old sheets, tea towels or cotton t-shirts.

The simple to make mittens are being sent to “IFAW at 6 Belmore Street, Surry Hills 2010” for distribution throughout the effected regions in Australia.