An unusual and surprising incident has caught attention in Brisbane: a young koala named Peri was spotted on a city bus after crossing a busy road in Camp Hill. The animal risked being hit, but fortunately the timely intervention of an attentive driver avoided the worst.
While Peri sought refuge on a metal pole located on a road island to avoid traffic, the driver acted quickly to prevent him from ending up on the road again. With great caution, he covered the koala’s head with a light jacket and moved it onto the bus, thus allowing the marsupial to find a temporary safe place.
The intervention of Koala Rescue Brisbane South
Soon after, the Koala Rescue Brisbane South organization, led by Brianne Barkla, intervened to assess the animal’s condition. Despite appearing healthy, Peri was taken to the RSPCA hospital for a check-up, as a precautionary measure. Fortunately, less than 24 hours later, he was declared in good condition and ready to return to the wild.
Liberation and adaptation
Peri was released into Seven Hills Bushland Reserve, the closest land to where he was found. The area offers a protected environment in which the young koala can continue to develop and feed safely, away from the threats of busy roads and urban development.
Brisbane Mayor Adrian Schrinner praised the driver as “incredible“for putting the animal’s safety first. The story went viral on social media and, although funny, it was also an excellent opportunity to raise public awareness of the importance of not handling koalas without experience, given their delicate but potentially dangerous nature due to their claws and bites.
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