A young, adventurous koala ended up catching a ride on a Brisbane bus after dodging traffic on a busy road in the city’s inner-east on Saturday night.
The local council bus’s grab rails would normally be used for passengers’ safety, but that is where the tree-dwelling marsupial, named Peri, found refuge on the weekend.
Koala Rescue Brisbane South’s Brianne Barkla said she was in disbelief when she heard the native animal was on a bus in Camp Hill.
“It’s the first time I’ve dealt with the koala on a bus,” the non-profit organisation’s rescue lead said.
The CityGlider bus is a high-frequency service in Brisbane’s inner suburbs. (Supplied: Koala Rescue Brisbane South)
When Ms Barkla arrived at the scene, she said she was surprised to find the koala “was literally in the bus”.
She said the bus driver told her the koala had crossed the road and had almost been hit by a car, before climbing up a metal pole in the middle of a traffic island.
Concerned that the koala could slip down the pole and be hit by ongoing traffic, the bus driver used a jacket to cover the koala’s head and placed it on the bus.
Ms Barkla was then called to help.
She said the koala had looked healthy, but as a precaution was taken to the RSPCA.
“The following day we received the news that there was nothing wrong,” Ms Barkla said.
She said the driver was also OK, with no scratches from the marsupial.
“We are really thankful the bus driver cared so deeply for the koala’s safety,” Ms Barkla said.
The koala was released on Sunday afternoon in Seven Hills Bushland Reserve — the reserve closest to where he was located.
Without paying 50 cents, Peri took refuge on the pole in the middle of the bus. (Supplied: Koala Rescue Brisbane South)
Inspired by a line in the classic Christmas carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas, the animal rescue service named him Peri.
“We were trying to work out some kind of Christmas theme, so we thought about the ‘partridge in a pear tree’, Peri,” Ms Barkla said.
She said Peri would have been classified as a “sub-adult”, meaning more than 12 months old.
“Young but old enough to be on its own,” Ms Barkla said.
‘Delicate’ but ‘ferocious’ creatures
Ms Barkla said the rescue organisation did not get many calls from around Seven Hills Reserve.
“There are koalas there, but [it’s] very few and far between that we will receive a call in that area,” she said.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says Peri was helped by an “incredible” bus driver. (Supplied: Koala Rescue Brisbane South)
Ms Barkla said it was a positive sign that koalas were at the reserve, but it was also a concern that they were wandering away.
Koalas under threat from urban creep and chlamydia
She said koalas were still on the move as they are nearing the end of their breeding season.
“So, you will see them out and about on the roads and [in] backyards,” Ms Barkla said.
She said the emergency rescue service did not recommend anyone handling koalas.
“They are quite delicate creatures, but they also can be quite ferocious … with their claws,” Ms Barkla said.
“We just recommend keeping your distance and just let us handle the rescue,” she said.Loading…
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said he often described Brisbane as “the most Australian place on earth, and a koala on one of our buses just proves it”.
“Every day our bus drivers do an incredible job keeping Brisbane moving, but this driver really did go above and beyond to keep this koala out of harm’s way,” he said in a statement.
Mr Schrinner said the driver “did an incredible job”, but urged residents to get in touch with animal rescue services if they come across a koala in trouble.