A lucky koala has been saved from a fiery death by compassionate firefighters battling a bushfire along the Victorian coast.
When CFA members fighting to put out the 2200-hectare Jamieson Track blaze near Lorne found the koala lying unconscious by the side of the road, they brought the animal back to their station.
Victoria Police then took over the koala's wellbeing and hand-fed her water and gum leaves until she felt better.
She has since been nicknamed Constable K. Bear and is doing very well, police say.
Wildlife Victoria's Amy Hidge says while it's still too early to say how many animals have died in the fire, people who come across an animal that "looks off" should call Wildlife Victoria.
"We understand that at the moment looking for animals is a low priority, but at this stage we just need people to look out for bush-affected animals," she told AAP.
"Often, you can't see if the pads on their feet have been burnt or if they have smoke inhalation, so we're saying that if they look a bit off, they're probably bushfire affected."
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