Return of the Koala: Wildfire victims return to forest

Wrapped in towels and sandwiched between laundry baskets, Noisy the koala is released two months after being pulled from Australia's devastating bushfires.

The two-year-old, nicknamed for the racket it made after being rescued, was a lucky survivor after its habitat was burnt to a crisp on Kangaroo Island, 150 miles off Adelaide. Rescuers - including a Brit dubbed the Bushfire Angel - found the petrified mite starving and dehydrated. But today, after a nightmare summer which left 34 people and a billion animals dead, Noisy's return signals joy - and sheer relief - as Australia slowly returns to normal.

He is one of 70 creatures who were saved and rehabilitated by a dedicated team from charity Humane Society International at emergency stations on the island. Volunteers cheered as Noisy returned to the treetops. HSI worker Georgie Dolphin - the so-called Angel - says: "My heart felt like it was about to burst with joy watching as Noisy left and effortlessly ascended the tree, peering down at us as if to say, 'I'm home'! Noisy was "particularly vocal" after he was rescued. But Georgie adds: "Unfortunately most koalas were not very vocal while in the trees - a shame as it would have been much easier to locate them."

Australia's bushfires finally eased six weeks ago after ripping through 46 million acres and destroying 9,000 buildings. Half of Kangaroo Island, more than 800 square miles, was blitzed and two locals died. The island is dubbed Noah's Ark for its remarkable range of wildlife.

Georgie tells how a makeshift team of vets, volunteers and wildlife experts found charred animals cowering amid the embers and koalas stranded in trees. Creatures that did survive were in desperate need of food and water. Tragically, just 30 per cent of the rescued animals survived, she added.