Baby Koala Clings to Mom During Surgery

Mom was struck by car but is expected to recover.

Animal lovers the world over have had their hearts melted by Phantom, the six-month-old baby koala who clung to his mother, Lizzy, as surgeons operated on her.

Lizzy was struck by a car on a highway outside Brisbane, Australia, and suffered a collapsed lung and chest trauma, but 15-ounce Phantom, who was riding in his mother’s pouch, was unharmed, according to officials at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital.

The operation was successful, and mother and son were relocated from the ICU to outside koala wards. Hospital officials are monitoring their progress closely and believe they will be able to return to the wild soon.

Koalas often fall victim to car accidents, and the cost of treating a koala can be as high as $5,000 Australian, nearly $3,900 U.S.

Koalas are marsupials, meaning that unlike other mammals, they do not give birth to fully developed offspring. After the young are born, they then live in their mothers' pouches until they are mature enough to venture outside.

Koalas typically give birth to only one joey, the term for a baby marsupial, a year. 

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