THE AUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHIC BOOK CLUB
THE 99TH KOALA
By Kailas Wild
DURING THE Black Summer bushfires, a desperate text from a wildlife carer prompted Sydney arborist Kailas Wild to throw his climbing gear into his ute and drive 1500km to Kangaroo Island in South Australia. Almost half the island had been razed by flames and thousands of koalas were left stranded and starving in smoking, blackened details the life-changing seven weeks Kailas spent saving more than 100 koalas. Climbing fire-weakened trees and rescuing frightened koalas is exhausting, risky work, and Kailas is forthcoming about the crushing guilt he experienced every time a rescue went badly. But in such a dark time it’s the moments of elation, joy and hope that shine through in this extraordinary book.
