This Valentine’s Day, Sinan the squirrel is giving back to animals less fortunate than himself.
In recent months, Sinan has quickly gained fame at UT and over 8,000 followers on Instagram for appearing around campus, the Strip, football games and other events. The unusual site of the tiny squirrel has created excitement for many students who encounter him while going about their normal days, leading to a frenzy of social media posts whenever the highly anticipated animal is spotted.
Now, Sinan’s owner Saed Awad has seen an opportunity in Sinan’s fame to give back to less fortunate animals by aiding the wildlife suffering from the Australian bushfires.
Awad is currently raising funds to donate to organizations that will aid injured animals in Australia. He is doing so by selling Valentine’s Day cards featuring Sinan dressed in a hat and vest.
Sinan himself is a rescue animal. The squirrel was found injured and abandoned by Awad’s friend in his backyard. The friend then contacted Awad about the squirrel, and Awad nursed Sinan back to health with the plan to release Sinan after he had fully recovered.
However, man and squirrel quickly became quite attached to each other, and the two remained together.
Awad explained that after seeing devastating photos of Australian animals injured in the fire, he became determined to somehow help the situation.
“I know a lot of people are trying to do whatever they can, so I thought about just making a card for Valentine’s time,” Awad said.
He explained that the card is mutually beneficial. Those who purchase the card get to enjoy it, and the product is simultaneously giving back to those in need.
“We can do this card, people can buy them, enjoy the card and at the same time we can help with the wild animals in Australia,” Awad said.
The cards are $3, and they can be purchased by getting in contact with Awad on Instagram or Facebook. Awad also encourages anyone who does not wish to purchase a card but wishes to help the Australian animals to donate to the Red Cross.
The wildfires currently plaguing Australia are record-breaking in terms of their damage and spread, and the natural disasters have severely harmed Australia’s wildlife population. According to “Vox,” it is estimated that around one billion animals have already been killed in the fires, and they are far from over.
The fires have particularly affected the koala population in New South Wales, which encompasses Australian koalas’ main habitat. Around 8,000 koalas in the region have been killed by the fires, which is nearly one third of the koala population in NSW.
UT professor Laura Miller is currently abroad in Australia with students from the College of Communication and Information. CCI takes a group of students down under each spring for 13 weeks to study and intern.
Because they are located in Sydney, the group is currently safe from the wildfires. However, Sydney is currently experiencing a great deal of air pollution as an aftermath of the fires.
Miller discussed the extent of the damage in Australia.
“Australia is experiencing ongoing and unprecedented devastation caused by the bushfires. Many lives, animals and homes have been lost and the country is in great need,” Miller said.
Miller also expressed her gratitude for Awad’s fundraiser and assistance.
“This fundraiser is an easy and fun way to get involved and provide support,” Miller said. “I am grateful to Saed for this thoughtful endeavor and for reaching out to support the amazing people of Australia!”
