CANBERRA, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Museum Victoria's chief executive Patrick Greene on Thursday said its newest exhibit "Sam the koala" would capture the hearts of thousands of Australian and international visitors.

    Greene said Sam's popularity would draw thousands and could match that of iconic racehorse Phar Lap, also in the museum's collection.

    "Like Phar Lap, after 70 years still one of the most loved items in the museum's collection, I believe Sam will be seen and shared by generations who have been touched by her story," he said at the launch of the koala's exhibit

    The internationally famous koala, which died last August, has been stuffed and displayed in the museum's foyer as a reminder of the deadly 2009 Victorian bushfires.

    Sam the koala earned international fame after images of her being rescued and fed water from a bottle by David Tree, a Country Fire Authority (CFA) fire-fighter.

    The CFA volunteer said he hoped Sam would represent the huge loss of human life and wildlife as a result of the bushfires.