Lucky the koala Canberra's feisty symbol of survival after the January 2003 bushfires has died.
The much loved marsupial passed away about 11.30am yesterday at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.
She was in a lot of pain and struggling to live without support, leading authorities to believe that the most humane option was to put her down.
She was old for a koala between 12 and 14 years of age and constantly fighting to recover from the terrible injuries she suffered during the January 18 firestorm in 2003.
Lucky, the sole survivor in Tidbinbilla's koala enclosure, was found by a ranger clinging to a charred tree six days after the firestorm and suffering burns to more than a third of her body.
About 15 adult and several young koalas also in the enclosure had perished in the blaze.
Lucky became a symbol for Canberra's recovery from the firestorm and something of an international celebrity.
Children in Japan even wrote a book about her. She also had her own email address set up for fan letters.
Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said yesterday that Lucky had been a ''beacon of hope''.
He said, ''Lucky's survival was a miracle, and her recovery and long life are a reminder of the resilience that can be realised through a strong will. I hope that Lucky is remembered in the hearts and minds of all Canberrans into the future.''
ACT Government vet Dr Will Andrew remembered Lucky as ''a good little fighter''.
He added, ''In many ways, she was the icon of the recovery.
''There were a lot of people writing to her and emailing her. I think in many ways they found it easier to email an animal, because it was really just a way of expressing their emotions without having to deal with it openly towards people.''
Dr Andrew said Lucky could be ornery: she gave him a nip or two through the years.
''I think that's what really got her through the whole ordeal, that she had that fighting spirit.''
Lucky spent several months in intensive care at the National Zoo and Aquarium where she was cared for by zookeeper Shelley Russell who said Lucky had reached an old age for a koala, but her death was still very sad.
''As she started to get better, the best sign we saw was that she started to get feisty,'' Mrs Russell said. ''Before then, she wouldn't be bothered when we came near her. Once that aggressive nature came back, we knew she was on her way.''
Lucky moved back to Tidbinbilla in October 2003 and was shifted into her own special enclosure last year.
A Territory and Municipal Services spokeswoman said yesterday, ''Lucky was taken out of public view last year, and spent the remainder of her life enjoying the peace and quiet of retirement.''
Makiko Ikeda, of Weetangera, wrote about Lucky's story in a children's book published in Japan, titled Fight On, Lucky.
Mrs Ikeda said yesterday that children were fascinated that Lucky had recovered well enough to be returned to her bush home. ''I think a lot of kids thought that was pretty extraordinary.''
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