Frightened and helpless, a baby koala clings to a tree branch. Below, his mother screams. Searching for their dinner of eucalyptus leaves, she manages to get her head stuck in one family's fence.

For Australians, spotting a koala isn't unusual, but finding one in distress is. Desperate to save the mother koala's life, the family calls the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services. Koala rescuer Vicki Pender is sent to help.

Pender knows she must act quickly to save the terrified animal that is frantically struggling to free herself. After giving the koala a tranquilizer to calm her down, Pender carefully cuts away the fence with bolt cutters. Then she places the groggy animal in a koala carrier.

Photograph by Allofs Photography